Russian Drone Hits Kyiv Site as Claims Emerge of Aircraft Strike Ahead of US Envoys’ Visit

A fire broke out at a non-residential site in Kyiv’s Solomianskyi district during a Russian drone attack, but authorities did not identify the facility affected. Unverified reports pointed to either a Nova Poshta hub or an aircraft at Zhulyany Airport, while MP Oleksiy Goncharenko linked the latter claim to tentative travel plans for US envoys.

A fire broke out at a non-residential site in Kyiv’s Solomianskyi district during a Russian drone attack on Friday, Sept. 4, as conflicting reports emerged over what had been hit and whether the site was the intended target.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the fire in a Telegram post but did not identify the facility or say whether it was struck directly or ignited by falling drone debris.

Videos circulating online appeared to show a large blaze and a column of smoke. Kyiv Post could also not independently verify the precise location shown in the footage.

Klitschko reported that one woman was injured in the Holosiivskyi district and received outpatient medical treatment. It was not immediately clear whether her injury was connected to the same drone or a separate incident during the attack.

Conflicting claims over the site hit

Unverified accounts on social media offered competing versions of what had been affected in the Solomianskyi district.

Some claimed that the fire was burning at a Nova Poshta logistics hub. Others pointed to the Zhulyany Airport, officially known as Kyiv International Airport, and claimed that an aircraft on the ground had been hit.

Neither Kyiv authorities nor Nova Poshta had publicly confirmed those reports at the time of publication.

There was also no official evidence identifying the intended Russian target.

Honcharenko links strike to US envoys’ plans

Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko claimed that a Russian drone had struck an aircraft at Zhulyany, although he did not provide evidence supporting the allegation.

“A few minutes ago, the Russians struck a plane at Zhulyany with a drone,” Honcharenko wrote.

According to the lawmaker, US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner had been considering flying to Boryspil International Airport on Sunday, Sept. 6, following an expected visit to Moscow on Saturday.

Honcharenko said the possible flight was still being coordinated and that the US side had not made a final decision. He claimed that two old Yak-40 Soviet-era passenger aircraft at Zhulyany were affected by Friday’s attack.

The lawmaker speculated that the strike could have been intended as a signal from Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin that he did not want negotiations with Washington and Kyiv.

“Most likely, Witkoff and Kushner will come to Kyiv on Sunday,” Honcharenko said, suggesting they could now travel overland.

On Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that both US representatives had expressed their readiness to visit Ukraine in the coming days, as a previous trip to Kyiv, discussed in August, was originally postponed.