Ukraine: Russian strikes injure several in Kyiv, Odesa

Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Odesa injured at least 13 people early Thursday, as the conflict enters its fifth winter, according to Ukrainian officials. An air raid alert has been issued in Kyiv, with residents advised to seek shelter, according to the city's military administration. At least 10 individuals suffered injuries in the capital, including a child, while apartment buildings and warehouses sustained damage.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that debris also fell near a petrol station. The Black Sea port city of Odesa reported three injuries after a 19-story apartment building was struck by a Russian missile, with one victim being a child. Both Russia and Ukraine have ramped up their use of long-range missiles and drones in recent months to launch attacks on each other's territories.

Despite recent signals from both sides indicating a willingness to resume negotiations under US mediation, the strikes persist. The most recent round of trilateral talks in January and February 2026 in Abu Dhabi and Geneva did not yield a resolution, as the issue of territorial control in eastern Ukraine remains unresolved.