Russia renews ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv after brief ceasefire, reports say

Russia renewed its aerial campaign against the Ukrainian capital early Tuesday, deploying ballistic missiles in a strike that broke a multi-day lull in hostilities. According to reports from Asaf Rozentzweig (חדשות 12), the escalation follows the conclusion of a visit to Moscow by U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which had coincided with a temporary cessation of strikes on the capital.

Missile Barrage and Impacts

Air raid alerts sounded across Kyiv starting around 00:25 Jerusalem time as monitoring channels identified a ballistic missile threat. Reports indicate the use of Iskander-M and potentially nuclear-capable Zircon missiles. While Ukrainian Patriot interceptors were reportedly active over the city, multiple impacts were detected in East Kyiv and the nearby town of Bila Tservka.

Witnesses reported explosions and visible fires in residential areas of the capital. According to municipal officials cited by Reuters and חדשות 12, at least two buildings sustained damage. The full extent of casualties remains unconfirmed as emergency services respond to the impacted sites.

Strategic Context

The resumption of strikes marks a return to the high-intensity aerial warfare seen throughout August 2026. As The Zioneer reported previously, Kyiv has faced repeated saturation attacks involving hypersonic and ballistic systems designed to overwhelm air defenses. This latest barrage suggests that the diplomatic window provided by the U.S. envoys' visit has closed without a lasting de-escalation. Concurrently, Ukrainian forces have reportedly made tactical gains elsewhere, eliminating a Russian bridgehead west of the Zherebets River and recapturing several villages, including Drobysheve and Novoselivka.