Russian strikes kill at least nine in Ukraine hours after sides agree to resume peace talks

At least nine people were killed in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past 24 hours, according to Ukrainian authorities. The strikes came hours after Moscow and Kyiv agreed in principle to resume US-brokered peace talks.

In Kyiv, one person was killed and 22 others injured, including four children, as ballistic missiles and drones struck six districts. Fires broke out in residential and non-residential buildings, while homes, vehicles and infrastructure were damaged. The capital's Dniprovskyi district was among the areas struck, where one person was killed and six others, including a child, were injured. Kyiv's mayor said debris hit homes and a car service station, with fears that people could be trapped under rubble.

In the Kharkiv region, a separate wave of Russian attacks killed one person and injured 15 others, including three children, according to regional governor Oleh Syniehubov. In the city of Kharkiv, drones damaged houses, a shop, cars and an office building, while a strike on a lorry park set four lorries, a trailer and a car on fire.

Beyond Kyiv and Kharkiv, where one person was killed in each city, Russian attacks also claimed lives in Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk, bringing the nationwide death toll to at least nine, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Rescue teams worked through the morning to extinguish fires and assess the damage.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The attacks landed within hours of Moscow and Kyiv agreeing in principle to resume US-brokered talks, an immediate test of whether the diplomatic track can change conditions on the ground.
Civilian casualties in major cities, including children, keep the human cost of the war at the centre of European attention.
The strikes show that Ukraine's largest cities remain exposed to missile and drone attack more than four years into the war.

Background

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the war has since been marked by repeated missile and drone attacks on cities far behind the front lines. Kyiv and Kharkiv have been frequent targets, with Ukrainian officials regularly reporting civilian casualties and damage to residential areas.

Euronews' related coverage reported that the latest round of diplomacy included a meeting between a US envoy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that Putin had opened the door to peace talks. Hours after the agreement in principle to resume negotiations, the strikes reported above took place.

Key Perspectives

Ukrainian authorities: Their account is the basis for the reported toll of at least nine dead and dozens injured. They attribute the attacks to Russian missiles and drones and have detailed damage to homes, infrastructure and a lorry park. Local officials and emergency crews: Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov gave the Kharkiv casualty figures, and Kyiv's mayor reported debris falling on homes and a car service station, with people feared trapped. Rescue teams worked through the morning. Critics and sceptics: The timing of the strikes, so soon after an agreement in principle to return to negotiations, underscores the gap between diplomatic commitments and battlefield reality. The available coverage carries only the Ukrainian account of the attacks, with no Russian response reported.

What to Watch

Whether the agreed US-brokered talks actually convene and hold despite continued strikes.
Further casualty reports from Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk, where deaths were recorded.
The outcome of rescue operations in Kyiv, including any update on people feared trapped under rubble.

Checked

9 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

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SupportedAt least nine people were killed in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past 24 hours, according to Ukrainian authorities.Euronews: “At least nine people were killed in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past 24 hours, according to Ukrainian authorities”
SupportedThe strikes came hours after Moscow and Kyiv agreed in principle to resume US-brokered peace talks.Euronews: “The attacks came hours after Moscow and Kyiv agreed in principle to resume US-brokered peace talks.”
SupportedOvernight missile and drone strikes sparked fires in Kyiv and the Kharkiv region.Euronews: “as overnight missile and drone strikes sparked fires in Kyiv and the Kharkiv region.”
SupportedMissiles and drones struck six districts of Kyiv.Euronews: “ballistic missiles and drones struck six districts.”
SupportedThe attacks wounded dozens of people.Euronews: “In the Kharkiv region, a separate wave of Russian attacks killed one person and injured 15 others, including three children”
SupportedIn Kyiv, one person was killed and 22 others were injured, including four children.Euronews: “In the capital, one person was killed and 22 others injured, including four children”
SupportedA separate wave of Russian attacks in the Kharkiv region killed one person and injured 15 others, including three children, according to governor Oleh Syniehubov.Euronews: “In the Kharkiv region, a separate wave of Russian attacks killed one person and injured 15 others, including three children, according to regional governor Oleh Syniehubov.”
SupportedA strike on a lorry park set four lorries, a trailer and a car on fire.Euronews: “a strike on a lorry park set four lorries, a trailer and a car on fire.”
SupportedRussian attacks also killed people in Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk, bringing the nationwide death toll to at least nine, according to Ukrainian authorities.Euronews: “Russian attacks also claimed lives in Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk, bringing the nationwide death toll to at least nine, according to Ukrainian authorities.”