Russia pummels Ukraine, targets kindergarten ahead of Budapest talks

Russia has once again targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as winter approaches. Nine Ukrainian regions were struck by Russian airborne attacks overnight on Oct. 21-22. 

Feeling the brunt was Kyiv and its surrounding region, as well as Poltava, Odesa, Cherkasy, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv regions, Ukraine’s Emergency Services reported. 

The strikes coincided with preparations for a Russia–U.S. meeting in Budapest aimed at resolving the Kremlin’s ongoing war against Ukraine.

In total, 11 people were killed across Ukraine in the 24-hour period, including two children in Kyiv Region.

“Russia, a terrorist state, killed a young woman born in 1987, a six-month-old baby, and a twelve-year-old girl in the village of Pohreby, Brovary district,” reported Kyiv Regional Military Administration Head Mykola Kalashnyk.

Early on Oct. 22, immediately after the massive overnight attacks, Russian forces targeted a kindergarten in Kharkiv, according to local authorities. One civilian was killed and seven others were injured. 

All children were evacuated and are currently in shelters, with many showing acute stress reactions.

“There is no — and can be no — justification for a drone strike on a kindergarten. Russia is becoming more brazen. These attacks are a slap in the face to everyone pushing for a peaceful solution,” said Kharkiv Regional Military Administration Head Oleh Syniehubov.

Dozens more were injured. Over the course of a single night, the Russian attacks damaged or destroyed numerous residential buildings, schools, cafes, civilian vehicles, medical transport, and energy and critical infrastructure facilities.