Russia launched air attacks on Kyiv with drones and missiles early on Tuesday, resuming the assaults after a brief pause for the arrival of U.S. peace negotiators. The strikes resulted in two fatalities and sparked fires throughout the Ukrainian capital, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Ten additional individuals were reported injured in the city, with falling debris causing fires at a five-storey apartment building and a three-storey residential block in one district.
At least 14 highrise buildings, a dormitory, a school, a clinic, warehouses, and other locations sustained damage in the attack. The resumption of the attacks followed the departure of U.S. peace envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff from Kyiv after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday. This occurred as the Trump administration renewed efforts to end Russia’s nearly five-year conflict in Ukraine. The envoys had come from discussions in Moscow, after which the Kremlin expressed openness to potentially restarting three-way negotiations.
“The moment the U.S. president’s peace envoys left, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin launched another massive, horrific attack against Kyiv,” stated Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. He emphasized the need for allies to increase pressure on Moscow and supply interceptors to counter ballistic missiles, as Kyiv’s interceptor reserves were critically low.
Residents, like 61-year-old Iryna Barisenkova, described hearing explosions while using public transportation and witnessing a significant fire near the Darnytskyi Vehicle Repair Plant area on the left bank of the capital. Barisenkova characterized the situation as “brutal.” Before the negotiations, Russia intensified its air raids on Kyiv and nearby regions, conducting attacks almost continuously for several days using high-speed jet-propelled drones, resulting in casualties and disruptions.
According to the Russian defense ministry, Moscow targeted military and logistical sites in Kyiv, the surrounding region, and the Black Sea port of Chornomorsk. In response to the escalating situation, Poland, a NATO and EU member, initiated preventive actions against potential Russian missile strikes on Ukraine, leading to the suspension of flights at Lublin airport. Additionally, Ukrainian drones caused damage and injuries in Saratov, a city located 730 kilometers southeast of Moscow, where a major oil refinery and other industrial and military facilities are situated.
Meanwhile, in Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, two individuals were killed and one wounded in a Ukrainian assault, as confirmed by Sergei Aksyonov, the Moscow-appointed regional governor. The ongoing conflict has prompted various nations to take defensive measures while the situation in Ukraine continues to escalate.