Russia launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on Ukraine during the night, as Kyiv prepares to engage in discussions with the United States amid ongoing diplomatic initiatives aimed at achieving a peace agreement.
The Russian military deployed 653 drones and 51 missiles, which triggered air raid alerts throughout Ukraine, according to the country’s air force. They reported that Ukrainian forces managed to shoot down and neutralize 585 drones and 30 missiles.
A total of 29 locations were targeted, resulting in at least eight injuries, including three in Kyiv. President Zelenskyy shared on X that there had been strikes on industrial facilities and residential buildings in the Kyiv region. He also mentioned that the Dnipro, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Lviv, Volyn, and Mykolaiv regions were affected.
Zelenskyy emphasized that energy facilities were the primary targets of the attack. However, he also highlighted that a main railway station building in Fastiv was struck, which he described as “meaningless from a military point of view.” He pointed out that Moscow could not have been unaware of this, suggesting that the attack was unnecessary and possibly intended to cause civilian harm.
In parallel, Russia’s Ministry of Defence stated that its air defenses had shot down 116 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight into Saturday. According to the Russian Telegram news channel Astra, Ukraine attacked Russia’s Ryazan Oil Refinery.
Regional governor Pavel Malkov reported that a residential building was damaged due to the drone attack and noted that drone debris fell at an industrial facility. However, he did not mention the refinery specifically.
Ukraine has escalated its campaign against Russia’s energy infrastructure, asserting that it is a critical source of funding for Moscow’s full-scale invasion. This strategy aims to pressure the Kremlin into halting hostilities and engaging in peace efforts.
On the other hand, Russia frequently targets Ukraine’s energy grid, aiming to deprive the country of essential services such as heat, electricity, and running water during the harsh winter months. This tactic has caused significant disruption and hardship for Ukrainian civilians.
Peace negotiations are currently underway. The recent wave of attacks coincides with the scheduled meeting between Ukrainian and US officials on Saturday for a third day of talks focused on ending the war in Ukraine.
The United States has been actively involved in facilitating peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. However, Kyiv and its European allies have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of feigning interest in peace efforts. This skepticism arises from the lack of progress or compromise in previous talks with the US last week, leading to doubts about the sincerity of Russia’s intentions.