Russia strikes Kyiv with missiles as US envoy's diplomatic push continues

Summary

Russian missiles struck Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, on October 21, after US envoy Steve Witkoff visited Russia. Kyiv said Russian attacks killed at least four people, including an elderly couple. Euronews reported that Russia struck central Kyiv with a ballistic missile carrying a cluster warhead, hours after Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg, and Zelenskyy said Russia had launched three such missiles. The Financial Times reported that Russian bombs hit Kyiv hours after Donald Trump's envoy met Putin, in a diplomatic push by Washington. On October 22, The Straits Times reported that Russia pounded Kyiv with ballistic missiles while Ukraine sent hundreds of drones towards Moscow overnight, with both sides keeping up attacks despite the latest US push to end the conflict.

Timeline

1. The Straits Times

   21 Oct 2026, 20:11 UTCSource ↗

   The Straits Times reports that missiles struck Kyiv after a US envoy visited Russia, and that Kyiv said Russian attacks killed at least four people on October 21, including an elderly couple.

2. The Straits Times

   22 Oct 2026, 03:36 UTCSource ↗

   The Straits Times reports that Russia pounded Kyiv with ballistic missiles and Ukraine sent hundreds of drones towards Moscow overnight, as both sides kept up attacks despite the latest US push to end the conflict.

3. Euronews

   22 Oct 2026, 11:16 UTCSource ↗

   Euronews reports that Russia struck central Kyiv with a cluster-warhead ballistic missile hours after US envoy Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg, and that Zelenskyy said three such missiles were used.

4. Financial Times

   22 Oct 2026, 13:18 UTCSource ↗

   The Financial Times reports that Russian bombs hit Kyiv hours after Donald Trump's envoy met Vladimir Putin, in a diplomatic push by Washington.