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Russian forces struck Kyiv's historic centre overnight with an Iskander ballistic missile carrying a cluster warhead designed to inflict maximum casualties across a densely populated area, according to a Ukrainian presidential adviser.
Serhii Beskrestnov, known by his callsign “Flash”, said the missile was equipped with a K5 cluster warhead, which detonates above the ground and disperses dozens of explosive submunitions over a wide area.
"This warhead detonates above the ground and is used specifically for inflicting maximum harm to people and equipment over an area of 400 by 400 metres," Beskrestnov said, adding that its 58 bomblets explode in the air.
He accused Moscow of deliberately targeting civilians and Kyiv's historic Old Town rather than pursuing a military objective.
“This strike was not carried out for military purposes. The goal was to destroy part of the Old Town and injure as many people as possible. We have many wounded civilians and widespread destruction."
The strike was part of a large-scale Russian aerial assault on the Ukrainian capital and surrounding region overnight on 21–22 October, which killed at least two people and injured 34 others, including five children, according to Zelenskyy.
The bombardment came in several waves, with ballistic missiles and drones striking residential neighbourhoods, transport facilities and medical infrastructure across the capital.
Kyiv authorities reported damage in the Holosiivskyi, Obolonskyi, Pecherskyi, Sviatoshynskyi and Dniprovskyi districts.
Ukraine's Air Force said Russia had launched 210 drones, including 110 jet-powered variants, alongside Iskander-M, S-400, Zircon and Onyx missiles.
Ukrainian air defences intercepted 181 drones, including 87 jet-powered variants, while strikes were recorded at 32 locations and falling debris at another eight.
Zelenskyy said Russia had fired 21 missiles in total and condemned the repeated attacks on the capital.
"Three waves of ballistic strikes were launched by Russian 'humanists' on Kyiv since the evening," he said.
The attack came just hours after US special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg as Washington pursued renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war.
During the visit, Witkoff described Putin as a "humanitarian", despite the Russian president being wanted by the International Criminal Court over the alleged unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children.