Missile Strikes Hit Ukraine Amid Renewed Peace Talks

Further casualties emerged in other regions. One man died in Sumy, and a woman was killed in Kharkiv.

Kyiv officials claim Russia's true intention is to destroy Ukraine's energy infrastructure, aiming to leave millions without power and heat.

Amidst the ongoing hostilities, US envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday. Witkoff addressed Putin, stating, "You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian. You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that."

Russia claimed to have shot down hundreds of Ukrainian drones launched in overnight attacks. Moscow's mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported two people wounded by 630 drones fired towards the region, with 163 approaching the Russian capital. Another man sustained injuries in the Lipetsk region.

The Ukrainian Khartia corps claimed an underground counteroffensive in Kupiansk, advancing 15km. They reported killing about 100 Russians while taking 30 prisoner. President Zelensky claimed "Russian humanitarians" launched the three waves of missiles.

The war has killed tens of thousands of people since Russia's February 2022 invasion. Unverified claims suggest the Ukrainians’ inability to shoot down Putin’s missiles becomes ever more costly. Unverified claims also suggest Putin is now close to achieving normalisation with America without concessions on the conflict.

President Zelensky and Europe are reacting to Donald Trump's stance towards Moscow. Trump returned to power in January 2025, promising to end the war in 24 hours. He reportedly delayed sanctions on Russia's war machine to secure Hubbard's release.

Donald Trump stated that negotiators were "maybe now the closest we've been" to ending the war.