Russia and Ukraine Exchange Strikes After Zelenskiy-Trump Talks

Russia and Ukraine exchanged fresh attacks overnight, escalating tensions just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy held discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and other European leaders about efforts to end the ongoing war.

Explosions were reported across Kyiv early Thursday as Russia launched ballistic missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital. Ukrainian authorities issued air raid alerts across much of the country, while officials in the northeastern city of Sumy confirmed that a Russian drone attack killed one person. Kyiv military administration chief Tymur Tkachenko urged residents to remain in shelters until the threat had passed.

The latest assault marks the second major attack on Kyiv this week and comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts by Zelenskiy to increase international pressure on Moscow and push for peace negotiations. Earlier this week, a Russian strike killed 10 people in Kyiv and damaged a historic monastery regarded as a key symbol of Ukraine’s cultural and spiritual heritage. Russia denied responsibility for striking the religious site.

Meanwhile, Ukraine intensified its drone campaign against Russian infrastructure. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Ukrainian drones struck the Moscow oil refinery in the Kapotnya district, the second attack on the facility within a week. Russian air defense systems reportedly intercepted more than 40 drones targeting the capital, although some reached the refinery. Falling debris also caused minor damage to a shopping center on Moscow’s outskirts.

The refinery attack follows reports that a previous Ukrainian drone strike disrupted operations at the facility, contributing to broader damage across Russia’s energy sector. Industry sources indicate that Russia, one of the world’s largest oil producers, may increase fuel imports to address growing gasoline shortages caused by repeated attacks on refineries.

Elsewhere, officials reported casualties in Russia’s Belgorod and Rostov regions following Ukrainian drone strikes. In Enerhodar, a city near the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Russian-appointed authorities said Ukrainian attacks killed one person and injured four others.

The conflict continues despite ongoing diplomatic discussions. Trump stated that Russia was suffering greater battlefield losses than Ukraine, while both sides continue to present conflicting accounts regarding military casualties and prospects for negotiations. Russia’s Kremlin also confirmed that President Vladimir Putin did not discuss a potential meeting with Zelenskiy during his recent conversation with Trump.

As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its fourth year, both countries continue to deny deliberately targeting civilians while intensifying military operations on multiple fronts.