Ten Injured in Kyiv Russian Strike as Zelenskyy Prepares for US Envoys' Visit

At least 10 people sustained injuries during a Russian attack targeting the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, coinciding with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's announcement that he anticipates discussions with United States envoys imminently.

Kyiv’s military administration reported on Thursday that the evening strike injured 10 individuals, including a child. Mayor Vitali Klitschko noted that six medical personnel were among the wounded. Initial military reports of a fatality were later corrected as inaccurate.

Sharing updates on Telegram, Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that a high-rise residential building's ninth floor suffered damage, with 15 residents evacuated from the area just outside the city center. Footage shared on unofficial Telegram channels captured a large fireball ascending into the night sky, with reports suggesting a jet-powered drone caused the impact. Subsequent explosions echoed through the city as an air raid alert persisted for over two hours.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko also reported six injuries from earlier strikes on the capital, which has endured over a week of continuous bombardment. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s state oil and gas company Naftogaz disclosed that Russian assaults targeted its production facilities, resulting in substantial equipment damage, though specific locations remained undisclosed.

In separate incidents, the Interfax news agency reported that a Ukrainian drone strike hit a bus in Horlivka, located within the Russian-controlled section of Ukraine’s Donetsk region, leaving one person dead and five injured. Citing Ivan Prikhodko, the Russian-installed mayor of the city, Interfax described the incident as a targeted drone assault. Al Jazeera could not independently verify this claim, and both Ukraine and Russia maintain that they do not target civilians. Additionally, local authorities in Russia’s Belgorod region confirmed that a separate passenger bus drone attack resulted in one death and four injuries.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated his expectation to welcome US President Donald Trump’s envoys to Kyiv in the near future to restart initiatives aimed at halting the Russian invasion. Diplomatic efforts regarding Russia’s four-and-a-half-year conflict in Ukraine have slowed recently as the US shifted diplomatic priorities toward the Middle East.

Addressing the public in his nightly address, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed receiving confirmation that the envoys of the president of America will hold meetings in both Moscow and Kyiv, expressing hope for gatherings in the coming days.

Special envoys Steve Witkoff and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner have engaged in shuttle diplomacy between Russia and Ukraine. While they have made multiple trips to Moscow, a visit to Kyiv has not yet occurred. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that tentative scheduling is established for their inaugural journey to the Ukrainian capital, following a July conversation aimed at reinvigorating diplomatic channels and pursuing peace.

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine represents Europe's most severe crisis since World War II, claiming the lives of thousands of civilians and hundreds of thousands of military personnel since 2022.