Russia Strikes Kyiv Hours After Agreeing to Talks as Moscow Reports 630 Drones

The overnight exchange hit air defense on both sides: Ukraine stopped most Russian drones but reported downing no ballistic missiles, and a reported strike near Moscow landed on a plant that has repaired Buk and S-300V systems.

Russia launched three waves of ballistic missiles at Kyiv overnight into Oct. 22, 21 in total, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. The attack began almost immediately after Vladimir Putin met U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg on Oct. 21.

After that meeting, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said Putin agreed "in principle" to resume three-way talks with the United States and Ukraine after Nov. 10. Ushakov added that a Putin-Trump-Xi summit is being prepared in Shenzhen for next month.

The salvo mixed Iskander-M, S-400, Zircon and Onyx missiles launched from the Kursk, Bryansk and Rostov regions, the Ukrainian Air Force said. Russia also sent 210 drones: Shaheds, 110 of them jet-powered, plus Gerbera and Italmas drones and Parodiya decoys. Kyiv was the main target.

Air force crews, missile units, electronic warfare teams, unmanned systems units and mobile fire groups downed 181 drones by 9 a.m., 87 of them jet-powered. Hits landed at 32 locations. Ukrainian forces reported shooting down none of the ballistic missiles.

In Kyiv, one person was killed and 22 wounded, including four children, according to the State Emergency Service. Strikes damaged homes, a monastery and metro infrastructure at the Pivdenny Bridge. Zelensky asked allies to speed up air-defense deliveries.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin claimed 630 drones flew toward the Moscow region between 8:30 p.m. and 4 a.m. He said most were intercepted at long range and 163 more were downed on approach to the capital. Two people were wounded. Ukraine has not confirmed its involvement.

South of Moscow, exiled Russian outlet Astra geolocated eyewitness footage of an explosion and fire to the 75th Arsenal in Serpukhov. The plant falls under the Defense Ministry's Main Missile and Artillery Directorate (GRAU) and makes and stores munitions. It has repaired Buk-M1, Buk-M2 and S-300V air-defense equipment, according to Russian state-owned Rostec. The strike has not been independently confirmed.

The night put air defense on both ledgers. Ukraine's layered drone defense held while the ballistic missiles went through, and the plant Astra identified has repaired Russia's Buk and S-300V systems. Ushakov's earliest date for renewed talks is Nov. 10.