Russia launched air attacks on Kyiv with drones and missiles in the early hours of Tuesday, resuming the assault after a brief pause for the visit of U.S. peace negotiators. The strikes resulted in the deaths of two individuals and sparked fires throughout the Ukrainian capital. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that an additional 10 people were injured, with falling debris in one area causing fires in two residential buildings.
The onslaught caused substantial damage to at least 14 high-rise buildings, a dormitory, a school, a clinic, warehouses, and other structures, as confirmed by officials. The attacks resumed following the departure of U.S. peace envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff from Kyiv after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday. The Trump administration aimed to bring an end to Russia’s longstanding conflict in Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for launching a massive attack against Kyiv immediately after the U.S. envoys left, emphasizing the need for increased pressure on Moscow and additional interceptors to counter ballistic missiles due to Kyiv’s low stock levels.
Residents in Kyiv, like 61-year-old Iryna Barisenkova, described hearing explosions while commuting and witnessing a significant fire near the Darnytskyi Vehicle Repair Plant area on the city’s left bank. Prior to the recent attacks, Russia had intensified its air raids on Kyiv and nearby regions, operating almost continuously for several days with the use of faster jet-propelled drones that disrupted daily life and caused civilian casualties.
The Russian defense ministry disclosed that Moscow targeted military and logistical sites in Kyiv, the surrounding region, and the Black Sea port of Chornomorsk. Amid the chaos, Poland, a member of NATO and the European Union, took preventive measures against potential Russian missile strikes on Ukraine, leading to the suspension of flights at Lublin airport temporarily.
In a retaliatory move, Ukrainian drones inflicted damage on civilian infrastructure and caused injuries in Saratov, a city along the Volga River southeast of Moscow. Meanwhile, in Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, a Ukrainian attack resulted in casualties, according to Sergei Aksyonov, the Moscow-appointed regional governor.