Russia hits Kyiv with 21 ballistic missiles despite peace talk claims

Russia launched three waves of ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight, firing 21 missiles at the capital and damaging homes, energy infrastructure, a shopping mall, a monastery and a bridge over the Dnipro River. Ukrainian authorities said at least nine people were killed across the country, including two in Kyiv, and more than 30 were injured. The strikes disrupted metro services and road traffic because trains use the damaged bridge.

The attack came hours after the Kremlin said it was ready in principle to resume US-mediated peace talks. US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff had met Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday, and Trump said the world was closer than ever to ending the war. Russia's subsequent missile barrage led President Volodymyr Zelensky to accuse Moscow of delivering a "demonstrative strike" immediately after negotiations. He said there had been "no real change" in Russia's attitude and called for more air defence interceptors, including Patriot systems, to protect Ukrainian cities.

Zelensky also described the missiles as having been fired by "Russian humanitarians", a pointed reference to Witkoff's praise of Putin as a humanitarian during the St Petersburg talks. Downing Street said it did not recognise that description and added that Putin had killed thousands of people. In Kyiv, residents described narrow escapes. One woman said she grabbed her three children and covered them on a bed as a missile hit their house. A retail park on the edge of the city was heavily damaged, and firefighters spent the morning damping down and clearing debris. Zelensky claimed cluster munitions were used in the strikes.

Ukraine struck back with hundreds of drones towards Russian targets, and Russia said it shot down more than 800 Ukrainian drones. Ukraine claimed it hit a weapons factory near Moscow. Military analysts said the exchange showed that talk of a breakthrough was premature, with one expert saying the sides were still arguing over a ceasefire rather than negotiating an end to the war. The expert also said US-made Patriot interceptors were needed to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles and suggested supplies were being held back even though European allies had paid for some.

The strikes raised fears that the war could spread further into Europe. Poland said it was reopening Cold War-era bunkers and sending text warnings to residents about air attack threats. In Lublin, a refurbished bunker built in the 1980s can shelter 200 people for up to 72 hours and has been fitted with decontamination rooms, first aid supplies, water tanks and backup air and power. Polish officials said Russian airspace incursions and a stray missile crash in July formed part of a deliberate strategy to destabilise Ukraine's NATO allies.