Russia Strikes Ukrainian Airports, Infrastructure Ahead of U.S. Envoys' Visit

By Reuters Sep. 5, 2026 State Emergency Service of Ukraine Russia hit Ukraine's airports in the capital Kyiv and the nearby town of Boryspil ahead of visits to Moscow and Kyiv by U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday. Ukraine's airspace has been closed since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. But Zelensky said that officials had discussed the possibility of Witkoff and Kushner using a plane for their expected visit to Kyiv on Sunday. “Clearly, these Russian strikes on the airports are a reaction to the discussions and preparations for the possibility of the U.S. side using an aircraft to travel to Ukraine and land at Kyiv Airport or Boryspil Airport,” Zelensky said on Telegram. “Russian-Iranian Shaheds (drones) in response to American diplomacy.” Elsewhere, a Russian ballistic missile strike on a Ukrainian steel plant in the eastern Dnipro region killed five people, damaged production facilities and infrastructure, forcing a halt to all operations, steel producer Metinvest said on Saturday. “This is yet another attack on a civilian Metinvest steelmaking asset and further evidence of Russia’s systematic strikes against Ukraine’s industrial base,” the company said in a statement. It said the Kamet Steel plant produced pig iron and steel exclusively for civilian purposes. Read more about: Drones , Kyiv , Dnipropetrovsk Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russian Drone Attack Kills 1 in Kyiv Suburbs Local authorities said a truck driver was killed after he was hit by falling debris from a Russian drone that had been shot down. 1 Min read Russian Air Attack on Central Kyiv Kills At Least 2, Wounds 6 Ukrainian officials said Russian drones targeted Kyiv’s Pechersky district, home to the presidential palace and government quarter. 1 Min read Kyiv and Moscow Targeted by Overnight Drone Attacks Both capitals were targeted by opposing drone attacks, which were largely intercepted by anti-aircraft defenses. 2 Min read Kyiv Says Downed 11 Russian Drones in Second Night of Attacks The second consecutive night of attacks on the Ukrainian capital came as NATO leaders prepared to meet with President Zelensky in Vilnius. 1 Min read