Russia strikes Kyiv overnight as Ukraine sends hundreds of drones toward Moscow

Overnight missile strikes on Kyiv

Russian missiles hit Kyiv again in the early hours of Thursday, 22 October, according to Reuters, which cited witnesses. The attack came shortly after a strike on Wednesday evening, 21 October, that injured six people, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram. That earlier strike also damaged several buildings, a petrol station and transport infrastructure. City authorities said 15 people were injured in the overnight attack, which damaged Metro infrastructure on the Southern Bridge over the Dnipro and hampered road traffic. Several residential buildings were damaged as well, and rescue services worked through the night to secure the area and help those hurt. Residents were woken by explosions, and the overnight attack was the second in a matter of hours.

Strikes beyond the capital

Russian forces also attacked the Kharkiv region in the north east, where one person was killed and four were injured, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov on Telegram. Strikes were also reported in the areas of Kremenchuk and Poltava. Kremenchuk is one of Ukraine's largest industrial centres and is home to some of its largest oil refineries. Attacks were thus reported across several regions within one night, not only in the capital.

21 October, evening6

Overnight into 22 October15

21 October, evening

6 people

Overnight into 22 October

15 people

Data from the article text

Ukraine's drone response

Ukraine answered by sending hundreds of drones toward Moscow. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said about 630 drones were launched toward the Russian capital region and that most of them had been neutralised. In Lipetsk, about 400 km south of Moscow, drones hit a residential building and a clinic, according to local head Igor Artamonov. Citing local authorities, Reuters reported that most of the drones were shot down. The Russian and Ukrainian strikes were thus taking place on the same night, in separate regions.

Talks in the background

The strikes followed meetings that Steve Witkoff, envoy of US President Donald Trump, held with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meetings aimed to mediate an end to the war that Russia started with its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. On Wednesday, Trump said the two sides had never been so close to ending the war in Ukraine. The overnight exchange of strikes came shortly after those contacts, with no agreement reported in the articles.