Russia has launched a massive combined missile and drone assault on Ukraine, striking targets across the country overnight, even as diplomatic efforts to end the war entered a critical phase.
Strikes Coincide with Delicate Negotiations
The large-scale aerial bombardment came while US and Ukrainian officials prepared for a third day of talks aimed at finding a path to end the conflict. Both sides had indicated progress on a potential security framework for a post-war Ukraine, but cautioned that any "real progress toward any agreement" hinges entirely on "Russia's readiness to show serious commitment to long-term peace."
Ukrainian air force officials stated that Russia fired a total of 653 drones and 51 missiles, triggering air raid alarms nationwide. Ukrainian defences were active throughout the night, managing to shoot down and neutralise 585 drones and 30 missiles. Despite these efforts, officials confirmed that 29 separate locations were struck.
Critical Infrastructure and Civilian Sites Targeted
Ukraine's minister of internal affairs, Ihor Klymenko, reported that at least eight people were wounded in the widespread attacks. The national energy operator, Ukrenergo, stated on Instagram that Russia conducted a "massive missile-drone attack" focusing on power stations and other critical energy infrastructure in several regions.
In a particularly dangerous development, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant temporarily lost all off-site power. The facility, which has been under Russian control since early in the invasion, is not operational but requires constant power to cool its six shutdown reactors and spent nuclear fuel to prevent a catastrophic incident.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes as militarily "meaningless." He identified energy facilities as the primary targets but also detailed that a drone strike had "burned down" a train station in the city of Fastiv, located in the Kyiv region.
"The Russians' goal is to hurt millions of Ukrainians," President Zelenskyy said, noting the attacks occurred on St. Nicholas Day. "That is why additional pressure is needed. Sanctions must work, and so must our air defence."
Ukrainian Retaliation and the Winter Strategy
In a parallel development, Russia's defence ministry claimed its air defences had intercepted 116 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated that its forces had successfully struck the Ryazan Oil Refinery in Russia. Footage shared by the Russian Telegram news channel Astra appeared to show significant fires and plumes of smoke at the refinery site.
This forms part of a months-long Ukrainian strategy of using long-range drones to target Russian oil refineries, aiming to cripple the export revenue Moscow relies on to fund its war effort. Meanwhile, Kyiv and its Western allies accuse Russia of systematically trying to destroy Ukraine's power grid, a tactic described as "weaponising" the cold to deny civilians heat, light, and running water during winter.
The diplomatic track continues alongside the violence. President Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in London on Monday to discuss the US-mediated negotiations, which also involve French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
