Russia resumed strikes on Kyiv on Tuesday night after a three-day pause. A series of powerful explosions rocked the capital of Ukraine, and an air raid alert was declared across the city. According to Ukrainian authorities, the attack involved the use of missiles and drones. The Kyiv City Military Administration urged residents to seek shelter immediately. Reports indicate hits on targets in Kyiv, as well as in the Boryspil and Fastiv districts of Kyiv region. AFP correspondents reported seeing plumes of smoke and flames in several areas. There had been no strikes on Kyiv for the previous three days. According to Russian and international sources, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a temporary halt to attacks on the Ukrainian capital during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoys Steve Whitcoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv. For the residents of Kyiv, this means a return to the previous regime of air raid alerts after a brief respite. At the same time, diplomatic contacts between the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia continue, despite the resumption of hostilities. During recent negotiations, American representatives stated that they see an opportunity to continue seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict; however, the current attack shows that the situation on the front and in Ukrainian cities remains extremely tense. Thus, the end of the three-day pause was accompanied by a new attack on Kyiv, and the prospects for further de-escalation will depend on both the development of diplomatic negotiations and the situation on the battlefield.
