Russia strikes Kyiv with three cluster-warhead ballistic missiles, Zelenskyy says

Russian forces struck Kyiv overnight with three ballistic missiles carrying cluster warheads designed to inflict maximum casualties across densely populated areas, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on Thursday. One of the missiles hit Ukrainian capital's historic center, damaging religious buildings, homes, shops, cafes and other civilian infrastructure. The missiles were designed to detonate in the air as they approached their targets dispersing explosive submunitions across an area 400 meters in diameter," Zelensky explained. The choice of weapon was deliberate, the choice of target area was deliberate, and so was the intent to inflict as much loss and damage on civilians as possible, Zelensky added. At least two people were killed and 34 others injured, including five children, across the affected areas, according to the Ukrainian president. The overnight bombardment came just hours after U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg as Washington sought to revive negotiations to end the war.