Russia strikes Kyiv after three-day pause, killing five

KYIV: A three-day lull in Russian attacks on Kyiv ended with a deadly barrage of missiles and drones, killing at least five people and injuring more than 30 others as fires and explosions shook parts of the Ukrainian capital.

The overnight assault damaged residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure across the city, while a Russian drone also struck a Ukrainian television channel building, partially destroying the facility. Ukrainian officials said the renewed strikes came shortly after US peace envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff left Kyiv following talks aimed at reviving negotiations to end the war.

Kyiv hit after brief pause

The attacks caused fires in several districts of Kyiv, with emergency crews rushing to damaged buildings and other affected sites. Officials reported damage to at least 14 high-rise buildings, as well as a hostel, school, clinic and warehouses.

The strikes once again forced residents to seek shelter as air-raid warnings sounded across the capital. The brief reduction in attacks during the US envoys’ diplomatic visits had raised cautious hopes that Moscow and Kyiv might be moving toward a temporary de-escalation.

Instead, the latest barrage quickly shattered that sense of calm.

Ukraine’s air force said its air-defence systems intercepted most of the incoming cruise missiles and two ballistic missiles. However, the scale of the attack still caused significant damage and casualties in Kyiv and other parts of the country.

TV channel building partially destroyed

One of the more striking incidents occurred when a Russian attack drone hit the building housing the We Are Ukraine television channel during a live broadcast.

The building was partially destroyed and several people were injured. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said five people were initially reported wounded in the strike.

The incident added another dimension to the attack, with Ukrainian officials condemning the strike on a media facility.

Damage reported beyond Kyiv

The latest Russian strikes were not limited to the capital. In the northern Sumy region, a Russian drone hit a passenger train, prompting people aboard to be moved to safer locations.

Other areas also reported damage as Russia continued its long-range campaign of missile and drone attacks. Reuters reported that the strikes came after a temporary pause linked to the US diplomatic mission and that Ukrainian officials urged international partners to provide additional air-defence interceptors.

The renewed bombardment has raised fresh questions over the prospects for peace talks. The pause had offered a rare moment of relative calm while American officials travelled between Moscow and Kyiv, but the return of large-scale attacks shows how fragile the diplomatic process remains.

For residents of Kyiv, the latest strikes brought back a familiar reality: even when diplomacy appears to be gaining momentum, the sound of missiles and drones can quickly return to the capital’s skies.