Russia launches major attack on Ukraine as peace talks stall
Russia Strikes Ukraine With Over 700 Drones and Missiles Before Kyiv–US Peace Meeting
Russia carried out one of its largest overnight attacks on Ukraine just hours before crucial peace talks between Kyiv and Washington. According to Ukraine’s air force, Moscow launched 653 drones and 51 missiles, triggering air raid sirens across the country and leaving at least eight people injured, including three in Kyiv.
Ukrainian defenders managed to shoot down 585 drones and 30 missiles, but 29 different locations were hit, causing damage to homes, factories, and vital infrastructure.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said several regions—including Dnipro, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Lviv, Volyn, and Mykolaiv—were affected. He added that Russia’s main targets appeared to be energy facilities, but even a railway station in Fastiv was struck, which he called “militarily meaningless.”
Russia Reports Its Own Drone Attacks
On the Russian side, the Ministry of Defence claimed its air defenses shot down 116 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Russian media outlet Astra reported that Ukraine targeted the Ryazan Oil Refinery, one of Russia’s key energy sites. While regional governor Pavel Malkov confirmed damage to a residential building and debris falling on an industrial area, he did not specifically mention the refinery.
Ukraine has recently increased its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, arguing that these facilities help fund Moscow’s ongoing invasion.
Energy War Intensifies as Winter Sets In
For months, both countries have focused heavily on targeting each other’s energy grids. Ukraine aims to reduce Russia’s war funding, while Moscow frequently strikes Ukraine’s power facilities to leave civilians without heat or water during the bitter winter season.
Peace Talks Continue, But Progress Is Slow
This latest wave of attacks comes as Ukrainian and US officials enter a third day of discussions aimed at finding a path to end the war.
However, Ukrainian leaders and European allies accuse President Vladimir Putin of pretending to support peace efforts, noting that the previous round of talks brought no real progress.
Despite the violence, Kyiv and Washington are pushing to keep diplomatic channels open, hoping for a breakthrough that has so far remained elusive.
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