Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched three waves of ballistic missile strikes involving 21 missiles against Kyiv after the latest round of negotiations.
In a statement posted on Telegram on Thursday, Zelensky said the strikes caused extensive damage across Kyiv, hitting residential buildings, energy facilities, railway station and metro infrastructure, shopping centers and industrial enterprises. A monastery was also among the damaged sites.
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The attack came amid renewed US-led diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin met US envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, while the Kremlin signaled willingness to resume trilateral negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States.
Witkoff sparked outrage among Republican lawmakers, after calling Putin a “humanitarian” as Kremlin leader released American citizen Stephen Hubbard, who had been imprisoned in Russia for more than four years, while Washington sought to revive negotiations to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian – you are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that,” Witkoff told Putin during the televised meeting. “I commend you, and I thank you again.”
Republican lawmakers condemned the praise, citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, attacks on civilians and deportation of Ukrainian children.
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Overnight attacks also damaged homes and a clinic in Lipetsk, while Russian officials reported dozens of drones downed over Tula and Voronezh regions.
“Since this evening, Russian ‘humanists’ have launched three waves of ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv, using a total of 21 missiles,” Zelensky wrote.
“Unfortunately, there have been numerous hits and significant damage across the city,” he said, adding that emergency services were working at all the affected locations.
Twelve Ukrainian regions came under Russian attack overnight, according to Zelensky. He said 34 people had been wounded in Kyiv and other regions, including five children, while two deaths had been confirmed.
“My condolences go out to their families and loved ones,” he said.
Zelensky added the attack came almost immediately after the latest round of negotiations, arguing that the strikes demonstrated Moscow had not changed its approach to the war.
“Almost immediately following the latest round of negotiations, Russia launched a demonstrative strike,” he wrote. “This indicates that there has been no genuine shift in their attitude toward the unfolding events.”
He said efforts to find a way to end the war must continue, but stressed that negotiations alone would not be enough without pressure on Moscow.
“It remains crucial to continue seeking the right solutions to bring this war to an end,” Zelensky said. “However, when Russian ballistic missiles serve as a response to negotiations, real pressure must be exerted on Russia to compel a different course of action – one that puts an end to the killing.”
He outlined several measures he said were essential to changing Russia’s behavior, including strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses, ensuring the rapid delivery of missiles, developing the capability to destroy Russian ballistic missile launchers and imposing sanctions over the war.
“Strengthening air defense, ensuring the rapid supply of missiles, gaining the capability to destroy ballistic missile launchers, and imposing sanctions for the war – all of this is essential,” Zelensky wrote.
He thanked those who recognize the situation and support Ukraine, emphasizing that the responsibility for the attacks lies with Russia.
“The aggressor deserves to be treated accordingly. Ukraine deserves support. Human lives deserve protection,” Zelensky said.
Russian forces launched a massive overnight missile and drone attack on Kyiv on Oct. 21–22, killing one person and injuring at least 24 others, including four children, according to Ukrainian officials.
The strikes damaged residential and non-residential buildings across six districts, as well as a monastery, a restaurant complex and other civilian infrastructure.
The attack also damaged part of the metro infrastructure on Kyiv’s South Bridge, prompting traffic restrictions, and hit an ambulance station in the Pecherskyi district, damaging six emergency vehicles. No medical personnel were injured, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 210 attack drones alongside Iskander-M and S-400 missiles and Zircon and Oniks missiles, with Kyiv as the main target. By 9 a.m. on Thursday, Ukrainian air defenses had shot down or suppressed 181 drones, while Russian weapons struck 32 locations and debris from intercepted drones fell at eight others.