Putin Orders Temporary Halt on Strikes in Kyiv

(AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed a 72-hour suspension of strikes on Ukraine’s capital, as announced by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov to Russia’s Tass news agency on Saturday.

Peskov stated, “Putin has ordered that no strikes be carried out against Kyiv for three days, beginning at midnight today.” He indicated that this decision was related to the upcoming visit of U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Kyiv for discussions on peace.

Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Moscow on Saturday, aiming to revive efforts to conclude Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine, according to Russian state outlets. Their visit occurs amid an escalation in aerial assaults from both sides. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that Ukraine would refrain from airstrikes during the envoys’ visit and called on Moscow to reciprocate. However, Moscow did not publicly respond to that suggestion.

The push from Washington to halt the ongoing conflict, which has now entered its fifth year, has dwindled in momentum as U.S. focus has shifted towards its engagement with Iran over the past six months.

Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev welcomed the U.S. delegation at the airport, as reported by Tass. He shared photos of their meeting, captioning one with “Welcome to Moscow Peacemakers.”

Witkoff and Kushner last visited Moscow in January to meet with President Putin, and they have yet to travel to Kyiv. Nevertheless, Zelenskyy expressed anticipation of their presence in the Ukrainian capital on Sunday.

With peace initiatives at a standstill, Russia has stepped up its attacks on Kyiv and surrounding cities, launching relentless bombardments even during daylight hours, likely capitalizing on Ukraine’s shortage of air defense systems.

Just recently, a Russian drone struck a critical government facility in Kyiv – the headquarters of Ukraine’s Security Service, known as the SBU, which conducts operations within Russia.

Ukraine has also been targeting Russian military installations and oil refineries to weaken the Kremlin’s war efforts and affect ordinary citizens, making them feel the war’s repercussions.

The air conflict between Russia and Ukraine has intensified amid stalled troop progress along the lengthy front line. Notably, Russia has been utilizing fast jet-powered drones, and Kyiv’s residents now frequently hear air-raid sirens, which have become a routine part of life there.

In a social media update on Saturday, Zelenskyy reported that Russian forces had targeted Kyiv and Boryspil international airports overnight, linking these attacks to the planned U.S. visit.

He remarked, “Clearly, these Russian strikes on the airports are a reaction to the discussions… concerning the potential use of aircraft by the U.S. side to travel to Ukraine.”

Zelenskyy added that they would adjust their operations next week regarding Russian airspace, which has become perilous due to ongoing drone and missile activity. He assured that their actions would not pose any threats to diplomacy.

In Ukraine’s southern Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian attacks resulted in five fatalities and five injuries at an industrial site, as local military administration head Oleksandr Hanzha reported. He detailed those killed as workers, emphasizing their peaceful professions. “They were simply working their shift… when enemy missiles ended their lives,” he lamented.

Additionally, a 62-year-old man was injured and various homes, including an apartment block, were damaged in a separate assault on the Nikopol district, according to Hanzha.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported strikes on two metallurgical plants in the region, branding them as “important suppliers of metal products for Ukraine’s military production.”

Moreover, two individuals were hurt in a nighttime Russian strike in the Kyiv region, as per Tymur Tkachenko, the regional military administration head. A fire caused by one strike partially destroyed a nine-story residential building in Boryspil.

Russian forces also targeted a shopping center in Ukraine’s Mykolaiv region with drones overnight, damaging retail establishments and igniting fires. Two individuals, a 72-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl, sustained injuries.

Emergency responders faced dangers as they had to withdraw to safety multiple times due to continuing threats of further strikes, returning only when it was safe.

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched ballistic missiles from the Rostov and Voronezh regions and deployed 167 attack drones overnight, which included Shahed-type drones – about half were jet-powered – along with Geran and decoy drones. Ukrainian defenses were able to shoot down or suppress 128 of them.

In another development, Ukrainian strikes wounded three people, including a 14-year-old girl, in Russia’s Belgorod border region, according to local officials. Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed its forces shot down 53 Ukrainian drones overnight.