Kyiv Strikes Put Ukraine's Sovereignty in Focus

Russian forces struck Kyiv’s historic centre overnight as Ukraine and Russia exchanged drone and missile attacks on Thursday, Oct. 22. Ukrainian authorities said seven people were killed. The assault came hours after U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, where Witkoff said Moscow was ready to resume trilateral talks with Kyiv and Washington.

Strikes on Kyiv

The overnight Russian assault on Kyiv and the surrounding region killed at least two people and injured 34, including five children, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Kyiv authorities reported damage across the Holosiivskyi, Obolonskyi, Pecherskyi, Sviatoshynskyi and Dniprovskyi districts.

The bombardment came in several waves. Ballistic missiles and drones hit residential neighbourhoods, transport facilities and medical infrastructure, according to the article. The strikes reached civilian areas as well as essential facilities in the Ukrainian capital.

Serhii Beskrestnov, a Ukrainian presidential adviser known by the callsign “Flash,” said Russian forces hit the historic centre with an Iskander ballistic missile carrying a K5 cluster warhead. He said the warhead detonates above the ground, spreading dozens of explosive submunitions across 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. He added that its 58 bomblets explode in the air.

Beskrestnov accused Moscow of deliberately targeting civilians and Kyiv’s historic Old Town, not pursuing a military objective. “This strike wasn’t 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.”

Missiles, drones and interceptions

Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia 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.

Authorities recorded strikes at 32 locations and reported falling debris at another eight. Zelenskyy said Russia had fired 21 missiles in total and condemned the repeated attacks. “Three waves of ballistic strikes were launched by Russian ‘humanists’ on Kyiv since the evening,” he said.

Moscow, meanwhile, said it intercepted 630 Ukrainian drones targeting the Russian capital. Both countries exchanged drone and missile attacks on Thursday.

Diplomacy after the attack

Witkoff met Putin in St. Petersburg hours before the reported strikes on Kyiv. France 24 reported that Witkoff said Moscow was ready to resume trilateral talks with Kyiv and Washington. During the visit, he described Putin as a “humanitarian.”

The International Criminal Court wanted Putin over the alleged unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children. The meeting and Witkoff’s remarks came on the same day as the attacks and reported civilian casualties in Ukraine.