Russia and Ukraine traded major attacks overnight, authorities from both countries said on Thursday, shortly after US envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.

Missiles struck Kyiv in the early hours of Thursday, wounding tens of residents, city authorities said.

In an update later in the morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had fired 21 missiles towards 12 regions in Ukraine. In Kyiv region, the strikes killed two people and injured 34 others, including five children.

The subway infrastructure on the Southern Bridge over the Dnipro river in Kyiv was also damaged, Mayor ⁠Vitali ​Klitschko ​said ​on Telegram.

Ukraine's airforce warned of Russian missiles and instructed residents to take shelter Image: Evgeniy Maloletka/AP Photo/dpa/picture alliance

"Overnight, Kyiv residents heard what Russian 'humanism' truly sounds like: a brutal attack with dozens of ballistic missiles striking energy infrastructure, medical facilities, shopping…