Russian strikes kill seven in Ukraine after US envoy meets Putin

Attacks come amid renewed diplomatic efforts, with Trump saying sides are 'closest we've been' to ending the war

By LineZotpaper

Published22 October 2026

Updated22 October 2026

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Sources2 outlets

Russian strikes killed seven people in Ukraine early Thursday, hours after US envoy Steve Witkoff met President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg for talks on ending the war, Ukrainian authorities said. The attacks wounded 15 in Kyiv and damaged metro infrastructure, while Russia reported hundreds of drones intercepted.

Russia and Ukraine traded attacks overnight, with seven killed on the Ukrainian side, authorities said on Thursday, despite renewed diplomatic efforts involving the United States. The attacks came shortly after US envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian president Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg for talks on ending the war.

In Ukraine, authorities said those killed included a man in Sumy, a woman in Kharkiv, three people in Zaporizhzhia and two in Donetsk. In the capital, Kyiv, mayor Vitali Klitschko posted on social media that strikes had wounded 15 people in the capital, eight of whom were taken to hospital. Another post said strikes had damaged metro infrastructure at the Pivdenny Bridge, restricting traffic. Ukraine's air force warned of ballistic missiles towards Kyiv and instructed residents to stay in shelters. The air force said it shot down 181 Russian drones overnight, with some still in the air.

In Russia, Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said two people were wounded during mostly-intercepted barrages of 630 drones headed towards the region, 163 approaching the capital. The governor of Tula said air defences destroyed 70 drones, while Lipetsk’s governor reported one man wounded.

US talks with Russia

President Donald Trump said following the meeting that the two sides were “maybe now the closest we’ve been” to ending the conflict, although no breakthrough was announced. The Kremlin said it was “in principle” willing to resume trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the US, potentially in mid-November after the US midterm elections. Ukraine has also backed renewed trilateral negotiations, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying Kyiv wanted a meeting as soon as possible.

Witkoff described his talks with Putin as “constructive”, while acknowledging that “important work” remained. Following the talks, Russia agreed to release US citizen Stephen Hubbard, a retired teacher convicted by Russia of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine, allegations he has denied. Trump has delayed further sanctions on Russia, saying doing so helped secure Hubbard’s release. Trump also struck a fresh agreement with Russia to sell diesel, aimed at reducing fuel prices, a move that has drawn criticism from Kyiv and several European governments.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The overnight attacks show the war continues even as diplomatic efforts intensify, raising questions about whether talks can produce a ceasefire.
The US-Russia diesel agreement and delayed sanctions signal a shift in US approach that has alarmed Kyiv and European allies.
The potential resumption of trilateral talks after US midterm elections could shape the next phase of the conflict.

Background

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. After more than four years, fighting remains heavy along the front line and in cities. The United States has been Ukraine's largest military backer, but President Trump has pursued direct engagement with Russia, including meetings with Putin. Previous rounds of talks have failed to produce a lasting ceasefire. The release of US citizen Stephen Hubbard is a rare gesture from Russia.

Key Perspectives

Ukraine: President Zelenskyy has backed renewed trilateral talks and called for a meeting as soon as possible, but Ukrainian authorities reported seven killed in the overnight strikes, underscoring the human cost of continued fighting. Russia: The Kremlin signaled willingness to resume trilateral talks in principle, possibly after the US midterm elections. Putin met with Witkoff and agreed to release a US citizen, presenting a cooperative posture. United States: President Trump said the sides are now the closest to ending the conflict, and his envoy described the talks as constructive. However, no breakthrough was announced, and Trump's diesel deal with Russia has drawn criticism from Kyiv and European governments. Critics/Skeptics: Kyiv and several European governments criticized the US-Russia diesel agreement, viewing it as undermining pressure on Moscow. Some may question whether Russian willingness to talk is genuine or a tactic to divide Western allies.

What to Watch

Whether the trilateral talks materialize in mid-November after the US midterm elections.
Further Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian areas.
European reactions to the US-Russia diesel deal and any additional shifts in US policy.

Sources

Russian strikes hit Kyiv after Witkoff meets Putin · Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
Russian strikes kill 7 in Ukraine after US envoy meets Putin · Euronews

Checked

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

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SupportedRussian strikes killed seven people in Ukraine.Euronews: “Russian strikes kill 7 in Ukraine after US envoy meets Putin”
Partly supportedThe attacks happened early Thursday, hours after US envoy Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg.Euronews: “The attacks came shortly after US envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian president Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg for talks on ending the war.”
Partly supportedThe attacks wounded 15 people in Kyiv and damaged metro infrastructure.Euronews: “In the capital, Kyiv, the mayor Vitali Klitschko posted on social media that strikes had wounded 15 people in the capital, eight of whom had been taken to hospital. In another post that strikes had damaged metro infrastructure at the Pivdenny Bridge, which officials said had restricted traffic between parts of the city.”
Partly supportedTrump said the sides were “closest we've been” to ending the war.Euronews: “Donald Trump said following the meeting with Putin and Witkoff, the two sides were “maybe now the closest we’ve been” to ending the conflict”
SupportedThe attacks killed seven people: one in Sumy, one in Kharkiv, three in Zaporizhzhia and two in Donetsk.Euronews: “In Ukraine, authorities say those killed include a man in Sumy, a woman in Kharkiv, three people in Zaporizhzhia and two in Donetsk.”
SupportedEight of the 15 people wounded in Kyiv were taken to hospital.Euronews: “the mayor Vitali Klitschko posted on social media that strikes had wounded 15 people in the capital, eight of whom had been taken to hospital.”
SupportedUkraine’s air force said it shot down 181 Russian drones overnight, with some still in the air.Euronews: “On Thursday morning, the airforce said it had shot down an 181 Russian UAVs overnight, adding there were still strike drones in the air.”
SupportedMoscow’s mayor said two people were wounded during barrages involving 630 drones headed towards the region, 163 approaching the capital.Euronews: “the mayor of Moscow Sergei Sobyanin said that two people had been wounded during mostly-intercepted barrages of 630 drones headed towards the region, 163 of which were approaching the capital city.”
SupportedThe Kremlin said it was willing in principle to resume trilateral talks, potentially in mid-November after the US midterm elections.Euronews: “The Kremlin said it was “in principle” willing to resume trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the US, potentially in mid-November after the US midterm elections.”
SupportedWitkoff called his talks with Putin “constructive” and said “important work” remained.Euronews: “Witkoff described his talks with Putin as “constructive”, while acknowledging that “important work” remained.”
SupportedRussia agreed to release Stephen Hubbard, whom Russia convicted of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine, an allegation he denied.Euronews: “Following the talks, Russia agreed to release US citizen Stephen Hubbard, a retired teacher convicted by Russia of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine, allegations he has denied.”
SupportedTrump struck an agreement with Russia to sell diesel aimed at reducing fuel prices, drawing criticism from Kyiv and several European governments.Euronews: “Trump also struck a fresh agreement with Russia to sell diesel , aimed at reducing fuel prices that have risen during the wider Middle East conflict, a move that has drawn criticism from Kyiv and several European governments.”