Russia Strikes Ukraine After Putin Agrees to Peace Talks
Russian forces launched massive drone and missile strikes across 12 Ukrainian regions shortly after Vladimir Putin agreed to resume trilateral peace negotiations.
The Russian Armed Forces launched a massive wave of overnight strikes across 12 Ukrainian regions on October 22, 2026, killing at least two people and injuring up to 34 others. The attacks utilized drones and precision-guided weapons to target defense industry facilities, including the Antonov enterprise and the Yuzhny railway bridge in Kyiv, as well as the Kiliya port in the Odessa region and a cargo ship bound for Chernomorsk.
In Kyiv, 21 ballistic missiles launched in three waves damaged residential buildings, energy facilities, shopping malls, and metro infrastructure. The Air Force of Ukraine reported shooting down 181 of 210 combat drones. These strikes occurred shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin met with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg and agreed to resume trilateral peace negotiations with Ukraine and the United States.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated the attacks prove Russia has no real change in attitude toward the conflict, noting that Russia launched a pointed attack almost immediately after another round of talks. Simultaneously, Russian authorities reported Ukrainian drone attacks in the Belgorod region, which killed one person, and 630 UAVs launched toward the Moscow region, which injured two people.
