Ukraine: Russian strikes injure several in Kyiv, Odesa

Russian airstrikes targeting the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Odesa resulted in at least 13 people being injured early Thursday, according to Ukrainian officials. As the conflict enters its fifth winter, an air raid alert was issued in Kyiv due to the risk of missile strikes. The city's military administration urged residents to seek shelter immediately.

In Kyiv, at least 10 individuals sustained injuries, with apartment buildings and warehouses reportedly damaged by the strikes. Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that debris also fell near a petrol station, and witnesses reported powerful explosions in the capital. Reuters and AFP quoted witnesses hearing the loud bangs.

Meanwhile, three people were injured when a Russian missile struck a 19-story apartment building in Odesa, a Black Sea port city. Among the casualties was a child. Both Russia and Ukraine have ramped up the use of long-range missiles and drones in recent months to target each other's territories. Despite recent signals of willingness to resume peace talks mediated by the United States, the strikes persist.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office had earlier indicated preparations for negotiations in October, while Moscow also hinted at the possibility of engaging in such discussions. The last round of trilateral talks held in Abu Dhabi and Geneva in January and February 2026 did not yield a breakthrough, as the issue of territory control in eastern Ukraine remained unresolved.