At least seven killed in Russian drone attacks on Ukraine ahead of peace talks

23 March 2025, 10:21 | Updated: 23 March 2025, 20:14

At least seven people have been killed in Ukraine after Russia launched a series of drone attacks, Ukrainian officials have said.

The attacks struck the Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Odesa and Donetsk regions, as well as the capital, Kyiv.

Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko described the attack as "massive" on the Telegram messaging app, adding emergency services were dispatched to several districts.

Three people, including a five-year-old child, were killed, and 10 others were injured in Kyiv, the city's military administration said.

Russia launched 147 drones in total across Ukraine. The strikes were described by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X as a "daily reality" for the country's people.

Ukrainian air defences intercepted 97 of the drones in the overnight bombardment.

The attack on Kyiv comes despite Ukraine and Russia agreeing in principle to a limited ceasefire last week - although they have been unable to agree on a mutual framework.

Ceasefire negotiations are taking place in Saudi Arabia on Sunday and Monday, with both nations holding talks mediated by the US. The hope is for an agreement on pausing long-range attacks on energy facilities and civilian infrastructure.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism ahead of the negotiations, telling US outlet Fox News he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin wants peace.

Ukrainian and US officials met on Sunday. In a televised statement, Mr Zelenskyy said his country's delegation was working in "a completely constructive manner" and that the conversation had been "useful".

He added: "But no matter what we say to our partners... we need to get Putin to give a real order to stop the strikes."

Russian and US delegations are due to meet on Monday.

Meanwhile, Russia's ministry of defence said on Sunday that it had shot down 59 Ukrainian drones overnight - including 29 over the region of Rostov and 20 more over Astrakhan on the Caspian Sea.

More drones were downed over the Voronezh, Volgograd, Kursk and Saratov regions, as well as over Crimea, the ministry said.

Yuri Slyusar, the acting governor of the Rostov region that borders Ukraine, said one person was killed when a car caught fire due to a drone strike.

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The Kremlin has said a phone call that took place between the Russian president and US President Donald Trump this weekend was "a step towards a face-to-face meeting".

Mr Trump said on Saturday that efforts to stop further escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war are "somewhat under control".

He also told reporters "rational discussions" with Mr Putin and Mr Zelenskyy are critical to negotiations.