At least six people were killed and over 30 injured in a series of Russian attacks across Ukraine, including a rare daytime assault on the capital Kyiv, on Wednesday. The strikes occurred just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with former US President Donald Trump to discuss potential peace efforts and a bilateral ceasefire on energy-related targets.

The attack on Kyiv involved faster, high-flying jet drones that proved difficult to intercept. Local officials reported two fatalities and more than 30 injuries in the capital. President Zelenskyy stated that Russia deployed numerous drones, many of which were jet-powered, and accused Russia of continuing to target civilian and critical infrastructure, including pharmaceutical facilities, gas stations, railways, communications networks, and shopping malls.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that a Russian drone struck a nine-storey non-residential building, a business centre, and warehouses. Ukrnafta, a Ukrainian oil company, reported that one of its petrol stations in the capital was hit, marking the sixth such facility attacked recently. Ukrainian railway operator chief Oleksandr Pertsovskyi also reported that railway infrastructure in Kyiv was attacked, resulting in an injured employee.

In a separate incident, an aerial bomb attack in a village in the front-line Donetsk region killed at least four people and injured four others, according to the regional governor. These attacks underscore the ongoing intensity of the conflict, even as diplomatic discussions, however informal, take place.

President Zelenskyy met with Donald Trump on Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Their discussions reportedly included a potential ceasefire specifically targeting energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy also requested an increase in US Patriot air defence missile supplies to counter anticipated Russian attacks on energy facilities during the winter months. While no formal agreements were reached, Zelenskyy expressed readiness for an energy ceasefire with Russia, provided it ceased its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.

Earlier reports, citing sources familiar with the matter, indicated that Trump had urged Zelenskyy on Sunday to halt Kyiv's strikes on Russian refineries. Trump's alleged concern was that these attacks were contributing to a global diesel shortage and driving up prices.

The timing of the attacks, immediately following high-level discussions involving President Zelenskyy and a prominent American political figure, has drawn attention. It raises questions about the potential impact of such dialogues on the conflict and Russia's response to them.

Ukrainian officials have consistently accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure. The repeated strikes on energy-related facilities, such as petrol stations and railway networks, highlight Russia's strategy to disrupt Ukraine's economy and daily life, particularly as winter approaches.