Russia-Ukraine conflict continues despite prospects of renewed talks

Firefighters work at the site of a shopping center hit by a Russian missile attack, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv on Thursday. Picture taken with a mobile phone. | REUTERS

Oct 23, 2026

KYIV – Russia pounded Kyiv with ballistic missiles, and Ukraine sent hundreds of drones toward Moscow on Thursday, as the warring sides kept up a barrage of attacks despite the latest U.S. push to end the conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump said SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had restored Ukraine’s Starlink access, one of the issues linked to a rift between Washington and Kyiv that has cast doubt on U.S. support for Ukraine.

Ukraine said Russia fired at least 21 ballistic missiles in three waves. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said three carried cluster munitions — “bomblets” that disperse over a wide area and are banned by many countries because of the danger to civilians. Russia’s defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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