Russian ballistic missile strike hits Kyiv, damages homes and petrol station

Russia and Ukraine conducted significant reciprocal strikes on their respective capitals, Kyiv and Moscow, hours after diplomatic signals indicated openness to US-mediated negotiations. These attacks, particularly an unprecedented drone barrage on Moscow and ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv, suggest either a lack of genuine commitment to de-escalation or internal opposition to a ceasefire, despite ongoing diplomatic engagements. The scale of these strikes marks a notable escalation in the conflict's pattern of using capital attacks as leverage.