Key facts
- At least one person was killed and over 20 injured in a Russian missile attack on Kyiv on Oct. 22, 2026.
- U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "humanitarian" on Oct. 21, 2026.
- The attack occurred hours after Witkoff's meeting with Putin.
- Residents expressed disbelief and anger at the contrast between Witkoff's praise and the ongoing violence.
Kyiv residents are grappling with the destruction caused by a Russian missile attack on Oct. 22, 2026, which killed at least one person and injured over 20, just hours after U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "humanitarian." The attack, which hit the central Pecherskyi District, shattered windows and left residents questioning the meaning of "humanitarian" actions amid the ongoing war.
During a meeting in St. Petersburg on Oct. 21, Witkoff praised Putin in connection with the release of American citizen Stephen Hubbard, who had been detained in Ukraine. However, the subsequent missile barrage in Kyiv, which also reportedly included cluster munitions, left residents like Nataliia Stativko and Dasha Bilous feeling that no place in the city was safe.
Local businesses and residents are already working to repair the damage. Andrii Saulevych, manager of the Khlibna Kraina coffee shop, reopened his business by 8 a.m. despite blown-out windows, stating that "humanitarians don't act this way." Teacher Yaroslav Bahai described how the war has impacted his teaching and his students' outlook, with many struggling to imagine their future.