Russian forces struck transport infrastructure in Kyiv overnight, hitting the city's South Bridge with 16 ballistic missiles and more than 280 drones, killing at least one person and injuring 15 in the capital, even as Finland's and Norway's leaders held a rare call with Vladimir Putin ahead of November peace talks.
Russian forces attacked transport infrastructure in Ukraine's capital overnight, hitting Kyiv's South Bridge in strikes that officials said included 16 ballistic missiles and more than 280 drones. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces struck again while emergency crews were still dealing with the aftermath of the initial attacks, calling it a serious escalation in Russia's campaign against the country's logistics.
A Russian missile attack on Kyiv killed at least one person and injured 15, including students in a dormitory, according to officials cited by Reuters. Russian attacks also caused deaths and injuries in the cities of Kharkiv and Pavlohrad. Russia's defence ministry said on Telegram that its forces had hit transport infrastructure in Kyiv, a logistics hub in the Kharkiv region, and industrial facilities and cargo vessels it said were being put to military use.
The strikes extended beyond the capital. A drone attack killed a man and wounded six people in the western Russian city of Bryansk, near the border with Ukraine, while officials in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region said a drone strike on a bus killed one person and injured 30 others. Reuters said it could not immediately independently verify the casualty reports, and both Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilians.
The attacks came as the warring sides prepare for talks. Kyiv and Moscow said last week they had agreed to hold United States-mediated technical meetings in Abu Dhabi in early November, the first such session since earlier rounds stalled.
Against that backdrop, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store called Putin from Helsinki on Tuesday to convey messages on future negotiations, according to a statement from both governments. The two leaders, who said they spoke for their own countries rather than for Europe, also spoke to Zelenskyy afterwards.
Zelenskyy said the pair had told Putin that real steps were needed to de-escalate attacks on Ukraine's energy facilities and infrastructure, and that they discussed preparations for the November talks. Stubb said ending the war required direct discussions, noting that the war's outcome would directly affect the security of Finland and Norway, both of which border Russia, and of Europe more widely.
People Sentiments Public Mood: Negative
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy: there must be peace, de-escalation is needed, and Russia must stop dragging out the war
- Alexander Stubb: ending the war requires direct discussions, and the war's outcome directly affects Finnish, Norwegian and European security
- Russia's defence ministry: strikes targeted transport infrastructure, a logistics hub and facilities put to military use
- Kyiv officials: described the bridge strikes as a serious escalation in Russia's campaign targeting logistics