Zelenskyy accuses Russia of using cluster warheads in deadly strikes

At least four people were killed and 34 injured, including five children, according to Zelenskyy's Thursday statement. The Ukrainian leader specifically accused Russia of using three ballistic missiles with cluster warheads that detonate in the air, striking everything within a 400-meter diameter.

International condemnation

More than 100 countries have banned cluster munitions under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, an international treaty adopted in 2008. Russia, like the United States, did not sign on to the treaty that prohibits weapons which spread smaller 'bomblets' indiscriminately over wide areas.

Diplomatic tensions

The strikes occurred hours after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin and called him a humanitarian. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated Moscow would study proposals on the Ukraine war brought by Witkoff but noted talks would take a long time.

Zelenskyy criticized the timing of the attacks: 'Almost immediately after another round of talks, Russia launched a pointed attack. This means there has been no real change in its attitude toward everything that is happening.'

Wider attacks

Russia claimed its air defenses downed 808 Ukrainian drones overnight, with two people injured. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported more than 600 drones were fired toward Moscow. Zelenskyy said twelve Ukrainian regions came under attack, including Kyiv's historic center Pechersk where civilian infrastructure was damaged.

Since Oct. 11, Ukraine has suffered 170 strikes on energy infrastructure sites. Zelenskyy has called on President Trump to provide interceptor missiles if he cannot 'rein Putin in,' while Secretary of State Rubio insisted nothing had been 'deliberately denied to Ukraine.'