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Russia and Ukraine have exchanged major drone and missile attacks overnight, despite renewed diplomatic efforts involving the United States.
The attacks came shortly after US envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian president Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg for talks on ending the war.
In Ukraine, Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko posting on social media that strikes had wounded 15 people in the capital, eight of whom had been taken to hospital.
In another post that strikes had damaged metro infrastructure at the Pivdenny Bridge, which officials said had restricted traffic between parts of the city.
Ukraine’s Airforce had posted warnings on Telegram throughout the early hours of “ballistic missiles towards Kyiv” and reports of fighter jets, and instructed residents to stay in shelters.
On Thursday morning, the airforce said it had shot down an 181 Russian UAVs overnight, adding there were still strike drones in the air.
In Russia, the mayor of Moscow Sergei Sobyanin said that two people had been wounded during mostly-intercepted barrages of 630 drones headed towards the region, 163 of which were approaching the capital city.
US talks with Russia
President Donald Trump said following the meeting with Putin and Witkoff, the two sides were “the closest we’ve been” to ending the conflict, although no breakthrough was announced.
The Kremlin said it was “in principle” willing to resume trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the US, potentially in mid-November after the US midterm elections.
Ukraine has also backed renewed trilateral negotiations, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying Kyiv wanted a meeting as soon as possible.
Witkoff described his talks with Putin as “constructive”, while acknowledging that “important work” remained.
Following the talks, Russia agreed to release US citizen Stephen Hubbard, a retired teacher convicted by Russia of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine, allegations he has denied.
Trump has delayed further sanctions on Russia, saying doing so had helped secure Hubbard’s release.
Trump also struck a fresh agreement with Russia to sell diesel, aimed at reducing fuel prices that have risen during the wider Middle East conflict, a move that has drawn criticism from Kyiv and several European governments.
Additional sources • AFP