Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a three-day pause in strikes on Kyiv to coincide with a visit by U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Key facts
- •The strike halt begins at midnight on Sept. 6 and lasts for three days.
- •U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on Sept. 5 and are expected in Kyiv on Sept. 6.
- •President Zelensky stated that Ukraine is preparing a response to recent Russian attacks to begin next week.
- •Russia targeted airports in Kyiv and Boryspil on Sept. 5.
- •Casualties in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast since Aug. 27 total 53 deaths and 112 injuries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian forces to halt strikes on Kyiv for three days, beginning at midnight on Sept. 6. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated the pause is intended to facilitate the visit of U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are traveling to the Ukrainian capital as part of President Donald Trump's efforts to negotiate an end to the war.
By the numbers
Diplomatic context and recent attacks
The announcement follows a proposal by Ukraine for a broader pause in hostilities from Sept. 5-8. Russia did not initially accept this proposal and continued military operations on Sept. 5, including strikes on airports in Kyiv and Boryspil. President Volodymyr Zelensky described these strikes as a response to the planned arrival of the U.S. envoys by plane.
Recent aerial campaign in Kyiv
Russia has intensified its aerial campaign against Kyiv and the surrounding region since late August, resulting in near-constant air raid alerts. On Aug. 27, the city recorded 13 air raid alerts, the highest daily total since the full-scale invasion began. Since that date, at least 53 people have been killed and 112 injured in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast.
Timeline
- Aug. 27Kyiv recorded 13 air raid alerts in a single day.
- Sept. 5U.S. envoys landed in Moscow and Russia continued strikes on Ukrainian airports.
- Sept. 6The three-day halt to strikes on Kyiv begins at midnight.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Kyiv Independent.
