Russia Strikes Kyiv Airports Ahead of Witkoff and Kushner Visit

Overnight this weekend, Russian forces struck airports in Kyiv and Boryspil — the first time in a long while that such attacks have specifically targeted the Ukrainian capital's airfields. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported the strikes on X on Saturday, calling them "demonstrative" and timed to coincide with a possible arrival of the American delegation.

According to the Ukrainian leader, the attacks were a direct response by Moscow to the ongoing talks and preparations for a visit by US representatives to Ukrainian airfields. "Russian-Iranian Shaheds as an answer to American diplomacy," Zelensky wrote.

Witkoff's Visit in Doubt

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are both due to visit Kyiv and Moscow this weekend. However, Ukrainian media reported that Witkoff is reluctant to travel to Kyiv following alleged warnings from the Kremlin that such a trip would be unsafe.

In addition, the American negotiator is insisting on flying into Kyiv, finding the long train journey inconvenient. The problem is that Ukraine's airspace has been closed for a fifth consecutive year because of the Russian invasion.

Kyiv Promises to Pause Strikes, but Prepares a Response

Ukraine has pledged not to carry out any airstrikes for the duration of the American negotiators' stay in Russia. However, Kyiv intends to respond to the overnight strikes on its airports as early as next week.

"Next week, we will adjust our operations against Russian airspace accordingly, which has become dangerous due to our drones and missiles in the air. But there is no threat to diplomacy from our side, and there will not be," Zelensky wrote.

That same night, a Russian strike also hit a metallurgical plant in the city of Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk region. According to regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha, five people were killed in the attack and another five were injured.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz