Zelenskyy says Russian forces shelled Kyiv airports ahead of US envoys’ visit

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia attacked Kyiv’s airports shortly before two US envoys were expected to visit Ukraine, describing the strikes as an attempt to create insecurity around their arrival.

“Russian strikes on the airports are a reaction to discussions and preparations for US representatives to be able to fly to Ukraine and land at Kyiv or Boryspil airports,” Zelenskyy wrote. He also threatened that Ukraine would coordinate its drone attacks next week to paralyze Russian air traffic.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, were expected to travel to Kyiv on Sunday for their first visit. Before that, they were due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Reports of a Russian drone attack on Zhulyany airport had already emerged on Friday, but no damage or injuries were reported.

Ukraine has suspended civilian air traffic since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. A safe flight by the US envoys would require Ukrainian authorization as well as security guarantees from Russia. Zhulyany, the old airport inside Kyiv, became too small after Boryspil, a newer international airport about 20 kilometers east of the capital, was built.

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Russian strikes on the airports are a reaction to discussions and preparations for US representatives to be able to fly to Ukraine and land at Kyiv or Boryspil airports.