By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
After agreeing to hold talks with Ukraine, Russian forces launched a massive overnight barrage of ballistic missiles on Kyiv killing at least four people and injuring dozens across the country, officials said.
The attack on Thursday damaged residential buildings, transport infrastructure and other civilian sites in several districts of Kyiv. Fires broke out in parts of the city, while emergency workers searched damaged buildings and assisted residents.
Ukrainian officials said Russia fired at least 21 ballistic missiles in three waves, with some reportedly carrying cluster munitions, which can scatter explosive submunitions over a wide area and pose particular risks to civilians.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks and called for stronger Western support, particularly additional air-defence systems and interceptor missiles to protect Ukrainian cities from Russian missile and drone strikes.
The bombardment came just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in principle to resume trilateral negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine and the US. The proposed talks are expected to take place after November 10, although a final date has yet to be confirmed.
Zelenskyy expressed scepticism about Moscow’s intentions, saying Russia’s continued attacks did not indicate a genuine commitment to ending the war.
Meanwhile, Russia said its air-defence systems had intercepted more than 800 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow and other parts of the country, including hundreds reported to have approached the Russian capital. The claims could not be independently verified.
The latest exchange of attacks underscores the gap between diplomatic efforts and the continuing military escalation, as Washington seeks to revive negotiations to end the conflict.
The war, which began in February 2022, has repeatedly seen attacks on civilian areas and critical infrastructure, raising concerns over the safety of residents as winter approaches.