Moscow Launches Missile Barrage on Kyiv Hours After US Envoys Depart Peace Talks
Russia fired ballistic and cruise missiles at Kyiv on Tuesday, damaging residential buildings and causing fires, shortly after U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner left the city following peace negotiations. The attack came as a three-day ceasefire agreed upon before the envoys' visit expired. Ukrainian officials reported people trapped in a building, and an educational facility was also hit.
The missile barrage struck residential areas in two Kyiv districts, igniting fires and damaging an educational facility. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported individuals trapped within a damaged apartment block as the three-day truce, arranged ahead of the envoys' visit, lapsed.
Concurrently, a Ukrainian drone hit civilian infrastructure in Saratov, Russia, injuring residents. Over the preceding day, Russian strikes across Ukraine caused multiple fatalities and dozens of injuries, while Ukrainian drones targeted three Russian oil refineries.
The resumption of strikes immediately after high-level diplomatic visits could undermine public confidence in the negotiation process, affecting civilians in both nations who bear the brunt of the violence. Ukrainian residents may face heightened insecurity and displacement, while Russian citizens could experience economic strain from attacks on energy infrastructure. The timing may also complicate future diplomatic efforts, as trust erodes, potentially prolonging the conflict and its humanitarian toll.