By — Derek Gatopoulos, Associated Press Derek Gatopoulos, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/russian-missiles-pound-kyiv-as-moscow-says-over-800-ukrainian-drones-downed Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Russian missiles pound Kyiv as Moscow says over 800 Ukrainian drones downed World Oct 22, 2026 10:58 AM EDT KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia bombarded Kyiv with ballistic missiles in an hourslong nighttime barrage, while the Russian military said Thursday that its air defenses intercepted over 800 drones fired by Ukraine at Moscow and other cities. At least four people were killed in Ukraine and dozens of others were wounded, officials said, in the attacks that began only hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed "in principle" on Wednesday to resume three-way negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and the United States. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. "Russia has not changed the way it wages this war, and it is taking no steps that would signal a genuine desire to end it," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after the latest large-scale barrage. Putin's consent came in talks in St. Petersburg with U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, who had spoken of a "new momentum" toward peace after meeting Tuesday with Zelenskyy in Norway. No date was set for the tripartite talks. WATCH: American imprisoned by Russia released as Witkoff meets and praises Putin Representatives of the three countries held rounds of "technical" talks in the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland in January and February, seeking to lay the groundwork for detailed negotiations. But they reported little progress beyond exchanges of prisoners of war. Russia and Ukraine remain far apart in their terms for stopping the fighting despite U.S. efforts. Zelenskyy says only a meeting of leaders can end the deadlock. Russia launches 170 strikes in just over a week at Ukraine's power grid Russia's aerial attacks hit 12 regions of Ukraine overnight, killing at least four people and wounding scores of others, including five children, Zelenskyy said on social media Thursday. Two women aged 50 and 60 were killed and dozens of others wounded in a Russian strike on a market in Lozova, in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, said Oleh Syniehubov, head of the regional military administration. Another person was killed in other strikes on Kharkiv, the State Emergency Service said. WATCH: Ukraine disputes Trump's claim of energy ceasefire as Russian diesel deal draws fire The Ukrainian capital endured a noisy night as 21 ballistic missiles came in three waves, Zelenskyy said, smashing apartment buildings, energy facilities, a railway station and the Kyiv subway system, shopping malls and businesses. One person was killed in Kyiv. The Russian attack on Kyiv included three ballistic missiles carrying cluster munitions — bombs that open in the air and release scores of smaller bomblets, Zelenskyy said. Ukrainians are bracing for the bitterly cold months ahead as the recent escalation in Russian attacks targets the power grid to deny civilians heat, light and running water. Ukraine says Russia is stockpiling ballistic missiles for an annual campaign Ukrainians describe as " weaponizing winter. " Since Oct. 11, Russia has launched 170 strikes on Ukraine's critical energy facilities, Zelenskyy said. Putin mulls attending G20 in Miami, Kremlin says The Ukrainian leader has pleaded with Washington to supply more Patriot air defense ammunition to stop the ballistic missiles, and to heap more sanctions on Russia to pressure Moscow to pursue peace. Instead, Trump has agreed with Putin to import diesel from Russia and waived heavy sanctions on Moscow, while U.S. officials say Patriot ammunition is in short supply. "Russia is clearly taking advantage of the slowdown in air defense supplies from our partners," Zelenskyy said. "It is equally clear that when some partners ease the pressure on Russia, it only reinforces Putin's belief that his goals are within reach." READ MORE: Putin agrees to resume trilateral Russia-Ukraine-U.S. talks next month Western analysts say Putin wants to cut out Europe and Kyiv and negotiate Ukraine's future directly with Washington. The Trump administration has also disparaged Europe. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Putin had received an invitation to attend the G20 summit in Miami in December but hasn't yet decided whether to go. "The American administration is doing a lot to help a peaceful settlement," Peskov told reporters. "European capitals are doing nothing to promote a peaceful resolution, and they are doing a great deal to provoke the further escalation of fighting." Ukrainians chide Trump envoy for flattering Putin Witkoff, the Trump envoy who met with Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, was harshly criticized in Ukraine and in the U.S. for praising the Russian leader as a "humanitarian" for ordering the release of a retired American teacher who was imprisoned on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. WATCH: Ukraine less reliant on U.S. as Trump-Zelenskyy rift deepens, former ambassador says Assassination attempts against Putin's foes — routinely denied by the Kremlin — have been common during his decades in power. And as the five-year anniversary of Russia's all-out invasion of its neighbor approaches, aerial strikes have killed thousands of civilians and hundreds of thousands of soldiers. The latest "brutal" Russian attacks demonstrate "what Russian 'humanism' truly sounds like," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on social media. "Appeasement, servility, and flattery will not stop this war. Only strength will." Russia says it intercepted more than 800 Ukrainian drones Russia's Defense Ministry said that air defenses overnight downed 808 Ukrainian drones, with two people reported wounded. Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that 630 of the drones were fired toward the Russian capital between late Wednesday and early Thursday. Moscow airports temporarily restricted air traffic overnight. WATCH: Ukraine resumes strikes on energy targets, saying Russia never stopped its attacks The Russian military hit the facilities involved in making and storing drones and cruise missiles and transport infrastructure in Kyiv in overnight strikes, the Defense Ministry said. Infrastructure in the southern port of Odesa and vessels used for the Ukrainian armed forces were also hit, it said. In other developments, the bodies of 252 people, said by Russia to be Ukrainian soldiers, were returned to Ukraine in an exchange, Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said Thursday. Russia received 25 bodies of Russian soldiers, Russian lawmaker Shamsail Saraliyev, a member of a parliamentary coordination group overseeing the exchanges, told the RBC news outlet. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Derek Gatopoulos, Associated Press Derek Gatopoulos, Associated Press
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia bombarded Kyiv with ballistic missiles in an hourslong nighttime barrage, while the Russian military said Thursday that its air defenses intercepted over 800 drones fired by Ukraine at Moscow and other cities. At least four people were killed in Ukraine and dozens of others were wounded, officials said, in the attacks that began only hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed "in principle" on Wednesday to resume three-way negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and the United States. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. "Russia has not changed the way it wages this war, and it is taking no steps that would signal a genuine desire to end it," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after the latest large-scale barrage. Putin's consent came in talks in St. Petersburg with U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, who had spoken of a "new momentum" toward peace after meeting Tuesday with Zelenskyy in Norway. No date was set for the tripartite talks. WATCH: American imprisoned by Russia released as Witkoff meets and praises Putin Representatives of the three countries held rounds of "technical" talks in the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland in January and February, seeking to lay the groundwork for detailed negotiations. But they reported little progress beyond exchanges of prisoners of war. Russia and Ukraine remain far apart in their terms for stopping the fighting despite U.S. efforts. Zelenskyy says only a meeting of leaders can end the deadlock. Russia launches 170 strikes in just over a week at Ukraine's power grid Russia's aerial attacks hit 12 regions of Ukraine overnight, killing at least four people and wounding scores of others, including five children, Zelenskyy said on social media Thursday. Two women aged 50 and 60 were killed and dozens of others wounded in a Russian strike on a market in Lozova, in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, said Oleh Syniehubov, head of the regional military administration. Another person was killed in other strikes on Kharkiv, the State Emergency Service said. WATCH: Ukraine disputes Trump's claim of energy ceasefire as Russian diesel deal draws fire The Ukrainian capital endured a noisy night as 21 ballistic missiles came in three waves, Zelenskyy said, smashing apartment buildings, energy facilities, a railway station and the Kyiv subway system, shopping malls and businesses. One person was killed in Kyiv. The Russian attack on Kyiv included three ballistic missiles carrying cluster munitions — bombs that open in the air and release scores of smaller bomblets, Zelenskyy said. Ukrainians are bracing for the bitterly cold months ahead as the recent escalation in Russian attacks targets the power grid to deny civilians heat, light and running water. Ukraine says Russia is stockpiling ballistic missiles for an annual campaign Ukrainians describe as " weaponizing winter. " Since Oct. 11, Russia has launched 170 strikes on Ukraine's critical energy facilities, Zelenskyy said. Putin mulls attending G20 in Miami, Kremlin says The Ukrainian leader has pleaded with Washington to supply more Patriot air defense ammunition to stop the ballistic missiles, and to heap more sanctions on Russia to pressure Moscow to pursue peace. Instead, Trump has agreed with Putin to import diesel from Russia and waived heavy sanctions on Moscow, while U.S. officials say Patriot ammunition is in short supply. "Russia is clearly taking advantage of the slowdown in air defense supplies from our partners," Zelenskyy said. "It is equally clear that when some partners ease the pressure on Russia, it only reinforces Putin's belief that his goals are within reach." READ MORE: Putin agrees to resume trilateral Russia-Ukraine-U.S. talks next month Western analysts say Putin wants to cut out Europe and Kyiv and negotiate Ukraine's future directly with Washington. The Trump administration has also disparaged Europe. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Putin had received an invitation to attend the G20 summit in Miami in December but hasn't yet decided whether to go. "The American administration is doing a lot to help a peaceful settlement," Peskov told reporters. "European capitals are doing nothing to promote a peaceful resolution, and they are doing a great deal to provoke the further escalation of fighting." Ukrainians chide Trump envoy for flattering Putin Witkoff, the Trump envoy who met with Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, was harshly criticized in Ukraine and in the U.S. for praising the Russian leader as a "humanitarian" for ordering the release of a retired American teacher who was imprisoned on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. WATCH: Ukraine less reliant on U.S. as Trump-Zelenskyy rift deepens, former ambassador says Assassination attempts against Putin's foes — routinely denied by the Kremlin — have been common during his decades in power. And as the five-year anniversary of Russia's all-out invasion of its neighbor approaches, aerial strikes have killed thousands of civilians and hundreds of thousands of soldiers. The latest "brutal" Russian attacks demonstrate "what Russian 'humanism' truly sounds like," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on social media. "Appeasement, servility, and flattery will not stop this war. Only strength will." Russia says it intercepted more than 800 Ukrainian drones Russia's Defense Ministry said that air defenses overnight downed 808 Ukrainian drones, with two people reported wounded. Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that 630 of the drones were fired toward the Russian capital between late Wednesday and early Thursday. Moscow airports temporarily restricted air traffic overnight. WATCH: Ukraine resumes strikes on energy targets, saying Russia never stopped its attacks The Russian military hit the facilities involved in making and storing drones and cruise missiles and transport infrastructure in Kyiv in overnight strikes, the Defense Ministry said. Infrastructure in the southern port of Odesa and vessels used for the Ukrainian armed forces were also hit, it said. In other developments, the bodies of 252 people, said by Russia to be Ukrainian soldiers, were returned to Ukraine in an exchange, Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said Thursday. Russia received 25 bodies of Russian soldiers, Russian lawmaker Shamsail Saraliyev, a member of a parliamentary coordination group overseeing the exchanges, told the RBC news outlet. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now