KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – In a significant escalation, Russia launched a major missile and drone attack on Ukraine overnight Saturday, coinciding with Ukraine's Armed Forces Day. The Russian assault involved 653 drones and 51 missiles, triggering air raid alerts across the nation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that he had a "substantive phone call" with American officials, discussing ongoing negotiations with a Ukrainian delegation in Florida aimed at reaching a conclusion to the nearly four-year war.
The Ukrainian air force stated that its forces successfully shot down and neutralized 585 drones and 30 missiles during the night. Despite these efforts, 29 locations were struck, resulting in at least eight reported injuries, as confirmed by Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko. Among the wounded, three individuals were in the Kyiv region, and drone sightings were reported as far west as Lviv.
Amid the chaos, Russia specifically targeted power stations and energy infrastructure across multiple Ukrainian regions. Ukraine's national energy operator, Ukrenergo, reported that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant temporarily lost all off-site power, raising concerns about the safety of its six shutdown reactors and spent fuel. The plant, under Russian control since the outbreak of the war, requires a reliable power source to prevent catastrophic incidents.
In addition to energy facilities, Zelenskyy highlighted that a drone strike had caused significant damage to the train station in Fastiv, located in the Kyiv region. In a countermeasure, Russia's Ministry of Defense claimed that its air defenses had intercepted 116 Ukrainian drones over its territory overnight.
The conflict escalated further as reports emerged that Ukrainian forces struck Russia's Ryazan Oil Refinery. Although the footage shared by Russian Telegram news channel Astra could not be independently verified, it showed a fire breaking out at the refinery. Ukrainian officials confirmed the strike but did not specifically mention the refinery. Ryazan regional Governor Pavel Malkov noted that a residential building was damaged, and drone debris landed on the grounds of an industrial facility.
Ukrainian long-range drone strikes have become increasingly common as Ukraine aims to hinder Russia's oil export revenue, crucial for sustaining its war efforts. Both Kyiv and its Western allies allege that Russia's strategy is to damage the Ukrainian power grid, effectively leaving civilians without access to essential services such as heat and water during the harsh winter months. This tactic has been described by Ukrainian officials as "weaponizing" the cold.
These latest attacks unfolded while negotiations continued in Florida, where U.S. advisers, including President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, engaged in talks with Ukrainian officials for a third consecutive day. Zelenskyy expressed a commitment to work collaboratively with the U.S. to achieve genuine peace, emphasizing that real progress would depend on Russia's willingness to commit to a long-term peace agreement.
After the previous day’s discussions, both sides acknowledged that any meaningful agreements would inevitably hinge on Russia’s seriousness towards peace efforts. Discussions were characterized as preliminary, focusing on establishing a security framework for postwar Ukraine.
Separately, it was reported that leaders from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany are scheduled to meet with Zelenskyy in London on Monday, indicating a broader international focus on the stability of Ukraine amidst ongoing hostilities.
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