At least three people died during a massive Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s capital overnight, according to local authorities, just hours before the start of U.S.-brokered talks aimed at negotiating a partial truce in Saudi Arabia. Multiple explosions rocked Kyiv as air defense units engaged incoming drones. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched nearly 150 drones nationwide and claimed to have shot down about 100, though this information could not be confirmed independently.

In the aftermath, Kyiv’s authorities stated that some drones and debris from those intercepted had hit various buildings, causing fires. Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the deaths of a father and his 5-year-old daughter, plus an 80-year-old woman, with at least 10 others injured. The extent of the casualties was unusually high for Kyiv, one of Ukraine’s most fortified cities and home to key political institutions like the presidential palace and parliament. In recent months, there has been an upsurge in Russian assaults on the city, with a strategy to overwhelm its defenses by launching waves of drones.

Both Ukraine and Russia had previously agreed to a truce concerning energy infrastructure but have yet to implement it pending the resolution of specifics during the Saudi talks. As a result, dual air strikes have continued, highlighting the lack of trust between the two sides. Andrii Yermak, the chief of staff for Ukraine’s president, criticized Russia’s continued attacks and called for an end to the violence. The negotiations in Saudi Arabia are set to address attacks on energy facilities and safety in the Black Sea, with U.S. representatives acting as mediators. While the two parties won’t meet directly, they will engage in talks with the U.S. at different times.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/23/world/europe/kyiv-ukraine-attack.html