KYIV – In the early hours of Saturday, Russia launched an extensive assault on Ukraine, utilizing both missiles and drones in a significant escalation of hostilities. This attack came just as officials from the United States and Ukraine prepared for a third day of discussions focused on finding a resolution to the conflict that has persisted for nearly four years.
The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia deployed a staggering 653 drones and 51 missiles in the offensive, which set off air raid alarms across the nation. This aggressive move coincided with Ukraine’s celebration of Armed Forces Day, highlighting the symbolic and strategic timing of the attack.
In a robust defense, Ukrainian forces successfully intercepted and neutralized a substantial portion of the assault, managing to down 585 drones and 30 missiles. Despite these efforts, 29 locations were impacted by the strikes, underscoring the scale and intensity of the operation.
The Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, confirmed that at least eight individuals sustained injuries as a result of the attacks. Within the Kyiv region alone, local authorities reported that three people were wounded. The reach of the assault extended as far as the Lviv region in western Ukraine, where drone activity was also observed.
Ukraine’s national energy operator, Ukrenergo, communicated through Telegram that the attacks were targeted at power stations and various energy infrastructures across several regions, signifying a strategic attempt to cripple Ukraine’s energy capabilities.
Russia carried out a “massive missile-drone attack” on power stations and other energy infrastructure in several Ukrainian regions, Ukraine’s national energy operator, Ukrenergo, wrote on Telegram.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that energy facilities were the main targets of the attacks, also noting that a drone strike had “burned down” the train station in the city of Fastiv, located in the Kyiv region.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense said its air defenses had shot down 116 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight into Saturday.
Russian Telegram news channel Astra said Ukraine struck Russia’s Ryazan Oil Refinery, sharing footage appearing to show a fire breaking out and plumes of smoke rising above the refinery. The Associated Press could not independently verify the video.
Ukraine did not immediately comment on the alleged attack. Ryazan regional Gov. Pavel Malkov said a residential building had been damaged in a drone attack and that drone debris had fallen on the grounds of an “industrial facility,” but did not mention the refinery.
Months of Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on Russian refineries have aimed to deprive Moscow of the oil export revenue it needs to pursue the war. Meanwhile, Kyiv and its western allies say Russia is trying to cripple the Ukrainian power grid and deny civilians access to heat, light and running water for a fourth consecutive winter, in what Ukrainian officials call “weaponizing” the cold.
The latest round of attacks came as U.S. President Donald Trump’s advisers and Ukrainian officials said they’ll meet for a third day of talks on Saturday, after making progress on finding agreement on a security framework for postwar Ukraine.
Following Friday’s talks, the two sides also offered the sober assessment that any “real progress toward any agreement” ultimately will depend “on Russia’s readiness to show serious commitment to long-term peace.”
The statement from U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner as well as Ukrainian negotiators Rustem Umerov and Andriy Hnatov came after they met for a second day in Florida on Friday. They offered only broad brushstrokes about the progress they say has been made as Trump pushes Kyiv and Moscow to agree to a U.S.-mediated proposal to end nearly four years of war.
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