In brief
Shortly after Russia agreed to restart peace negotiations, Kyiv was targeted by a series of missile strikes that damaged civilian infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelensky labeled the launchers “Russian humanitarians” in a stark rebuttal, echoing remarks from U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff who recently praised President Vladimir Putin. The attacks, photographed by BBC journalist Dan Johnson, followed a meeting in St Petersburg where Russia declared it was ready “in principle” to resume talks. The incident underscores the volatility of the conflict despite diplomatic overtures. More details on the damage and response are available in the full BBC report.
Just hours after Moscow announced it was ready to restart peace negotiations, Ukrainian forces recorded another volley of missile attacks over Kyiv, damage was evident on civilian buildings and a small retail complex according to on‑ground sources.
In an official statement, President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the launchers as “Russian humanitarians”, a term mirroring comments made by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff earlier in the week during a St Petersburg meeting where he referred to President Vladimir Putin with the same wording.
The BBC’s Dan Johnson was on the scene, filming the aftermath of a destroyed retail park in the outskirts of the capital. His footage shows shattered glass and smoldering corridors, corroborating accounts from local residents who reported hearing the missiles later that evening.
The timing of the strike, coming on the morning after Russia’s statement of readiness “in principle” to resume talks with the U.S. and Ukraine, raises questions about the conflict’s trajectory and the effectiveness of diplomatic overtures. Analysts warn that while voices of patience surface, the ground reality remains fraught with rapid escalation.
