During the latest Russian attack on Kyiv, according to information circulating among certain Members of Parliament and Ukrainian Telegram channels, an aircraft may have been damaged in the vicinity of Kyiv Airport in Zhuliany. There is currently no official confirmation that the aircraft was hit. The incident has attracted particular attention against the backdrop of preparations for the first visit to Kyiv by US President’s representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are also due to hold talks in Moscow in the coming days.
Briefly about the main points
- Members of the Verkhovna Rada and Telegram channels are reporting that a plane may have been hit in the Zhuliany area.
- There has been no official confirmation yet that the aircraft was damaged at the airport.
- On 3 September, Russian drones carried out repeated attacks on Kyiv, particularly the Solomyanskiy district.
- Vitkoff and Kushner have confirmed their forthcoming visit to Kyiv.
- US officials are also due to hold talks in Moscow.
What is known about the possible attack in Zhuliany
On the evening of 3 September, Russian forces attacked Kyiv with strike drones for several hours. Monitoring sources recorded a jet-powered UAV directly in the area Teremky and Zhuliany.
The city authorities have officially reported on the consequences of the attack in four districts of the capital, including Solomyanskyi. There, drone debris fell onto open ground, non-residential buildings and the grounds of one of the parks.
Later, information began to appear on political and monitoring channels about it is possible to «fly in» to Zhuliany.
However, as of the time of publication, neither the Kyiv City Military Administration, nor the State Emergency Service, nor the administration of Kyiv International Airport had officially reported any damage to a specific aircraft. This information should therefore be regarded as preliminary at this stage.
Vitkoff and Kushner are preparing for their first visit to Kyiv
The incident takes place just before the expected arrival representatives Donald Trump - Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
On 3 September, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Ukrainian negotiating team is, in effect, in constant contact with representatives of the US President.
The American side has confirmed the forthcoming meetings in Kyiv and Moscow, and the previous dates have already been agreed.
«We expect to see representatives of the US President here in Kyiv,» said Zelenskyy.
For Witkoff and Kushner, this should be his first visit to Ukraine, although they had already been to Moscow several times.
Were Trump’s representatives due to fly to Boryspil?
Certain Ukrainian political sources report that the American delegation allegedly considered arrival in Kyiv by plane via Boryspil Airport, rather than the traditional route by land transport usually taken by foreign delegations.
Such a scenario would be extremely telling, given that Ukrainian civil airspace has remained closed since the start of the full-scale invasion.
However, Neither the White House, nor the Office of the President, nor Boryspil Airport have officially confirmed this, …that Witkoff and Kushner were supposed to arrive by plane.
Similarly, there is no official confirmation of reports that the talks in Moscow are scheduled for Saturday and the meeting in Kyiv for Sunday. Zelenskyy spoke only of «the coming days».
The attack could affect the security arrangements for the visit
If the reports of damage to the aircraft at Zhuliany are confirmed, this could provide a further reason to change the US delegation’s travel arrangements.
Vitkoff and Kushner have already postponed their previously planned visit to Kyiv in August against the backdrop of a sharp increase in Russian missile and drone attacks on the capital.
In recent days, Russia has launched virtually non-stop attacks on Kyiv using rocket-powered drones. On 3 September, 14 people, including a 12-year-old child, were injured in the capital as a result of the strikes and falling debris.
Therefore The method of travel for the American representatives to Kyiv may be changed for security reasons, although the decision had not been announced publicly.
At present, the main point remains confirmed: Vitkoff and Kushner are due to hold talks in both Moscow and Kyiv in the coming days. Reports of the plane being hit at Zhuliany, the exact itinerary of their trip and a possible arrival at Boryspil still require official confirmation.
