Russian airstrikes on the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Odesa injured at least 13 people early on Thursday, including a child, according to Ukrainian officials. The attacks occurred as the war approaches its fifth winter, posing a severe threat to civilian safety.

The Kyiv City Military Administration wrote on Telegram that an air raid alert had been declared due to the threat of missile strikes, urging residents to proceed to the nearest shelters. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said apartment buildings and warehouses had been damaged in the latest strikes, and that debris also fell near a petrol station.

News agencies such as Reuters and AFP cited witnesses hearing strong explosions in Kyiv. In the Black Sea port city of Odesa, at least three people were injured when a Russian strike hit a 19-story apartment building, authorities said. A child was among those injured. These attacks have caused significant damage to urban infrastructure.

Both Russia and Ukraine have increased their use of long-range missiles in recent months, along with continued use of drones, to strike inside each other's territories. The strikes continue even as Russia and Ukraine recently signaled their readiness to resume talks under US mediation. Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office said officials were preparing for talks in October. Similar signals came from Moscow, which said it did not rule out such a possibility.

The last round of trilateral talks took place in January and February 2026 in Abu Dhabi and Geneva, without producing a breakthrough, as the issue of territory control in eastern Ukraine remained unresolved. The current airstrikes further exacerbate the humanitarian situation for civilians.

Source: www.dw.com