Russia resumed its air attacks on Kyiv, using drones and missiles early on Tuesday, following a temporary pause during the visit of U.S. peace negotiators. The assault resulted in the deaths of two individuals and sparked fires throughout the Ukrainian capital, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Additionally, 10 people were injured in the city, with falling debris causing fires at a five-storey apartment building and a three-storey residential block in one district.
Officials reported that at least 14 high-rise buildings, a dormitory, a school, a clinic, warehouses, and other locations sustained damage during the attack. The renewed attacks by Russia occurred after U.S. peace envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff departed from Kyiv subsequent to a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday. The Trump administration’s efforts to end Russia’s 4-1/2-year conflict in Ukraine were reinvigorated.
Russian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for launching a substantial attack against Kyiv immediately after the departure of the U.S. peace envoys. He emphasized the need for increased pressure on Moscow and the provision of interceptors to counter ballistic missiles due to Kyiv’s critically low supplies. A Kyiv resident, Iryna Barisenkova, described the intense explosions she witnessed while commuting on public transport and mentioned a significant fire near the Darnytskyi Vehicle Repair Plant area.
Prior to the negotiations, Russia intensified its air assaults on Kyiv and nearby regions, transitioning to almost continuous attacks for several days, including the use of faster jet-propelled drones. The Russian defense ministry confirmed targeting military and logistical sites in Kyiv, the surrounding area, and the Black Sea port of Chornomorsk. In response to the ongoing conflict, Poland, a NATO and EU member, initiated preemptive actions against Russian missile threats to Ukraine, leading to the temporary suspension of flights at Lublin airport.
Ukrainian drones inflicted damage on civilian infrastructure and caused injuries in Saratov, a city situated approximately 730 kilometers southeast of Moscow, according to the regional governor. The area hosts significant industrial and military installations, including a large oil refinery operated by state-owned company Rosneft. Additionally, two individuals were killed and one injured in a Ukrainian attack on the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, as confirmed by Sergei Aksyonov, the Moscow-appointed regional governor.