Russia drops cluster bombs on Ukraine as Kyiv consolidates front line
Ukraine says it has liberated more territory than Russia seized this year, as Zelenskyy accuses Moscow of firing cluster warheads into Kyiv.
Russia fired three ballistic missiles armed with cluster warheads into Kyiv on October 22, while Ukraine says its forces have liberated more territory since autumn than Russia managed to seize all year, Al Jazeera reports.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said one warhead struck between the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra cathedral and a monastery, adding: 'There was not even theoretically any military object nearby.' Russia's Defence Ministry claimed it had targeted an FP-5 drone assembly building. The warheads detonate above ground to inflict maximum damage, with 45 submunitions exploding in the air, according to Ukrainian drone expert Beskrestnov, cited by Al Jazeera.
Ukrainian General Staff spokesman Andriy Kovalev denied Russian claims to have seized 1,800 sq km this year, saying Ukraine had liberated more territory since autumn began than Russia captured in all of 2026. Robert Brovdi said October 21 marked Russia's highest daily losses of the war, at 2,250, according to Al Jazeera.
The piece also highlights Russia's campaign against Ukraine's energy infrastructure — more than 170 strikes, Zelenskyy said — and Kyiv's complaints that the US has slowed Patriot interceptor deliveries and suspended Starshield services, hampering its drone defences.
On diplomacy, US envoy Steve Witkoff met Zelenskyy in Oslo on October 20 before sitting down with Putin; Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said Russia had agreed 'in principle' to a trilateral meeting on November 10.
Source: Al Jazeera English — TrendWire reports stories in its own words; facts should be confirmed against the original source.