Russia launched a devastating barrage of ballistic missiles at Kyiv on Thursday, firing 21 missiles in three waves and killing two people, just hours after agreeing to resume US-mediated peace negotiations with Ukraine. The attack came on the same day a senior US envoy publicly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "humanitarian," prompting a sharp rebuke from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Missiles and Drones Fly as Peace Talks Loom
Despite the latest diplomatic push to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War Two, neither side showed any sign of restraining its military operations overnight. Ukraine confirmed Russia struck Kyiv with at least 21 ballistic missiles, damaging numerous sites across the city. In a parallel exchange, Ukraine launched an estimated 630 drones towards Moscow during the same period.
Zelensky confirmed that two people were killed and 34 others were injured, including five children, across a dozen Ukrainian regions. "Three waves of ballistic missiles have been launched at Kyiv by Russian 'humanitarians' since yesterday evening," he wrote on X. "They used 21 missiles. Unfortunately, numerous sites across the city have been hit and damaged."
The attacks followed Russia's announcement that it was prepared to resume talks with Ukraine as early as next month. Zelensky said he hoped negotiations, which would be the first since February, could begin in early November. For background on the history of those efforts, see the Wikipedia entry on Peace negotiations in the Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present).
Witkoff's "Humanitarian" Comment Draws Zelensky's Anger
US envoy Steve Witkoff had met Putin in St Petersburg before travelling to Oslo to brief European and NATO officials. He described the diplomatic process as having "some degree of momentum." During his time in Russia, Witkoff thanked Putin for releasing a 74-year-old American who had been captured by Russian forces in Ukraine, and referred to the Russian president as a "humanitarian."
The comment infuriated Zelensky, who pointed to the missile strikes as a direct contradiction of that characterisation. His sarcastic response on social media underscored growing Ukrainian frustration with Washington's tone toward Moscow.
The Kremlin, for its part, offered a more cautious reading of the Oslo discussions. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Russia had been briefed on "new nuances" picked up by US officials from European and NATO partners, but added that those nuances did "not entirely satisfy" Moscow.
US-Ukraine Relations Under Strain
The diplomatic turbulence follows a difficult period in relations between Kyiv and Washington. President Donald Trump announced a deal earlier this month to purchase Russian diesel and lifted sanctions on Moscow, moves that alarmed Ukrainian officials. Kyiv has also alleged that Washington withheld early-warning data on Russian missile launches, restricted the SpaceX satellite system used to guide Ukrainian drones, and held back missile defence systems purchased by European allies on Ukraine's behalf. Washington has denied any intentional shift in policy designed to undermine Ukrainian forces.
Trump has repeatedly criticised Ukraine over its strikes on Russian oil refineries while making few public comments about Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. He has also called for Zelensky to be replaced and described Russian actions in Ukraine as "fine." Zelensky, who had long avoided direct criticism of the Trump administration, has increasingly pushed back against what he characterises as a tilt toward Moscow.
Exchanges of War Dead Accompany Diplomatic Moves
Alongside the attacks, the two sides conducted an exchange of war dead, a gesture that has previously accompanied steps toward dialogue. According to Belarus state media, Russia handed over 252 bodies while Ukraine returned 25. Such exchanges have historically signalled at least a minimal degree of humanitarian cooperation between the warring parties.
Russia has maintained throughout the conflict that it will not halt fighting unless Ukraine cedes additional territory, permanently limits the size of its armed forces, and is barred from joining any military alliance. Ukraine, which describes the invasion as an unprovoked war of conquest, has consistently rejected those terms as tantamount to surrender. Previous attacks of this scale have caused significant civilian casualties, as seen in earlier mass missile and drone strikes on Kyiv.
