Russia hits Kyiv's historic centre with cluster-warhead Iskander, says presidential adviser

Russia attacked Kyiv’s historic centre overnight into October 22 with an Iskander ballistic missile fitted with a K5 cluster warhead, presidential adviser on defence technologies Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov said, in strikes that killed at least one person and injured 24 across six districts of the capital (https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/1224397.html).

“This warhead explodes above the ground and is used specifically for maximum harm to people and equipment over an area of 400 by 400 metres. Its 58 submunitions explode in the air,” Beskrestnov wrote on Facebook. “This strike was not carried out for a military purpose. The aim was to destroy part of the old city and injure as many people as possible,” he added (https://en.lb.ua/news/2026/10/22/46194_flash_russia_struck_kyivs.html).

The Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office reported the toll in the morning, while the State Emergency Service said four children were among the injured, one hospitalised (https://kyivindependent.com/russian-ballistic-missiles-rock-kyiv-in-late-night-attack-injuring-6/).

Damage was recorded across six districts. In Pechersk, a medical facility building, an ambulance station and six emergency medical vehicles were damaged, and debris tore through the roof of the Holy Presentation Monastery, injuring two parishioners (https://english.nv.ua/nation/iskander-missile-attack-on-kyiv-widespread-destruction-and-injured-civilians-50652416.html).

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia fired 21 missiles, while the Air Force reported 210 drones, including 110 jet-powered ones, with 181 neutralised; strikes were recorded at 32 locations (https://www.kyivpost.com/post/87830). The attack came hours after US envoy Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg.