Kyiv Under Fire as Russia Claims It Downed More Than 800 Ukrainian Drones

Russia launched a barrage of ballistic missiles against Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, while Moscow claimed its air defences intercepted more than 800 Ukrainian drones targeting the Russian capital and other areas, in a fresh escalation of the war despite renewed efforts to revive peace negotiations.

The attacks occurred overnight into Thursday, October 22, with Ukrainian officials reporting deaths, dozens of injuries and damage across several regions. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces fired at least 21 ballistic missiles at Kyiv in three waves, striking residential buildings, energy facilities, railway infrastructure, shopping centres and parts of the city’s metro system.

At least four people were killed across Ukraine and dozens injured, according to reports by the Associated Press. The casualties included people affected by strikes in the northeastern Kharkiv region, while Kyiv also suffered damage and fatalities. Ukrainian officials said children were among those wounded in the wider attacks.

Zelenskyy condemned the bombardment, saying the strikes demonstrated that Moscow’s approach to the conflict had not changed. He renewed calls for stronger air-defence support, particularly additional ammunition for US-made Patriot systems, which Ukraine relies on to intercept ballistic missiles.

Russia’s Defence Ministry, meanwhile, said its air defences shot down 808 Ukrainian drones overnight. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 630 drones had been directed towards the Russian capital, prompting temporary restrictions on air traffic at the city’s airports. Russian authorities reported that two people were wounded.

The latest exchange came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in principle to resume trilateral negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States. The agreement followed talks with US President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, in St Petersburg. However, no date had been confirmed for the proposed negotiations, and the two sides remain divided over the conditions for ending the war.

While US officials have spoken of renewed momentum towards diplomacy, the continued attacks have raised fresh questions about whether the latest initiative can produce meaningful progress. Zelenskyy has argued that a direct meeting between national leaders may be necessary to break the deadlock.

Russia said its latest strikes targeted facilities associated with the production and storage of Ukrainian drones and cruise missiles, as well as transport infrastructure. Ukrainian authorities, however, reported damage to civilian buildings and essential infrastructure.

Both countries have increasingly relied on long-range strikes during the conflict, with Russia repeatedly targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure and Ukraine conducting drone attacks against targets inside Russia. The latest barrage underscores the continuing risks to civilians as winter approaches and diplomatic efforts struggle to gain traction.