Russian missile and drone strike hits Kyiv ahead of key Ukraine-U.S. talks

Russian forces launched a large-scale barrage of missiles and drones against Ukraine’s capital early Saturday, killing at least one civilian and injuring dozens as explosions rocked the city for hours just one day before high-level talks between Ukraine and the United States.

The overnight assault targeted multiple districts across Kyiv, including residential areas and critical energy infrastructure, Ukrainian officials said. Emergency crews responded to fires and collapsed buildings, with more than 20 people reported wounded, among them children, and extensive damage to power and heating systems amid freezing winter conditions, AP News reported.

Ukraine’s leadership condemned the attack as a stark reminder of Russia’s campaign of pressure on civilian life, even as diplomatic efforts continue. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of choosing violence over dialogue, while noting that talks with U.S. counterparts were scheduled to begin Saturday in Florida to discuss security guarantees, territorial disputes and a proposed peace framework, according to AP News.

The Russian Defense Ministry described the operation as a “massive strike,” saying it involved long-range precision weapons, including hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, and claimed it targeted military-industrial facilities and infrastructure used by Ukrainian armed forces.