Russia strikes Kyiv after three-day pause, killing at least two

September 8, 2026 at 08:08 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Russian forces launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on Kyiv overnight, killing at least two people and wounding at least seven, after a three-day pause in strikes on the Ukrainian capital expired. The attack came hours after US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner departed Kyiv following talks that yielded no tangible progress toward peace. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha condemned the strike and urged allies to increase pressure on Russia.

Key Facts

At least two people were killed and seven wounded in the Russian air raids on Kyiv, according to the Kyiv city military administration.
Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 160 drones overnight.
The three-day moratorium on strikes against Kyiv ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin expired on Monday evening local time, according to Russia's state news agency TASS.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held talks in Moscow and Kyiv over the weekend, with Witkoff describing the Kyiv meeting as 'very meaningful' and 'substantive'.
A Ukrainian drone attack injured several people after hitting civilian infrastructure in Saratov, Russia, nearly 1,000 km from Moscow, according to regional Governor Roman Busargin.

The Attack on Kyiv

Russian forces launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on Kyiv overnight, striking residential buildings in the capital and in the Boryspil and Fastiv districts on the outskirts. The Kyiv city military administration reported at least two killed and seven wounded, while the Ukrainian Emergency Service later said the number of injured had risen to 10. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said five of the injured were hospitalized, two of them in serious condition. An air raid alert was declared over the city amid a continuing drone threat, with rescue operations ongoing. Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed a 'massive' overnight strike on Kyiv and the surrounding region, claiming it targeted Ukrainian defense and military logistics facilities.

Ceasefire Pause and US Envoys

Russia and Ukraine pledged to halt strikes on each other's capitals for three days as Washington dispatched envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv. The pause was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the envoys' visits over the weekend. Russia's state news agency TASS confirmed that the three-day suspension Putin had ordered for his forces expired on Monday evening local time. Witkoff and Kushner held talks with officials in Moscow and Kyiv regarding ending the conflict, with Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov calling the more than three-hour meeting in Moscow on Saturday 'highly useful'. After talks with Zelenskyy, Witkoff said: 'We've had a very meaningful discussion, substantive, important, and we are very encouraged, and we look forward to continuing this as long as it takes.'

Ukrainian Drone Attack on Saratov

Following the reported attacks in Ukraine, Russian regional Governor Roman Busargin said a Ukrainian drone attack injured several people after hitting civilian infrastructure in Saratov, nearly 1,000 km (621 miles) from Moscow. The number of casualties in Saratov remains unconfirmed.