Russia unleashed a significant missile and drone barrage on Ukraine in a single day into Saturday, after U.S. and Ukrainian officers mentioned they’re going to meet on Saturday for a third day of talks geared toward ending the practically 4-year-old warfare.
Russia used 653 drones and 51 missiles within the wide-reaching assault, which triggered air raid alerts throughout the nation and got here as Ukraine marked Armed Forces Day, the nation’s air drive mentioned Saturday morning.
Ukrainian forces shot down and neutralized 585 drones and 30 missiles, the air drive mentioned, including that 29 areas have been struck.
A minimum of eight individuals have been wounded within the assaults, Ukrainian Minister of Inner Affairs Ihor Klymenko mentioned.
Amongst these, at the least three individuals have been wounded within the Kyiv area, in accordance with native officers. Drone sightings have been reported as far west as Ukraine’s Lviv area.
Russia carried out a “huge missile-drone assault” on energy stations and different vitality infrastructure in a number of Ukrainian areas, Ukraine’s nationwide vitality operator, Ukrenergo, wrote on Telegram.
Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant quickly misplaced all off-site energy in a single day, the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company mentioned Saturday, citing its Director Common Rafael Mariano Grossi.
The plant is in an space below Russian management since early in Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and is not in service, but it surely wants dependable energy to chill its six shut-down reactors and spent gas, to keep away from any catastrophic nuclear incidents.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that vitality services have been the primary targets of the assaults, additionally noting {that a} drone strike had “burned down” the prepare station within the metropolis of Fastiv, positioned within the Kyiv area.
Russia’s Ministry of Protection mentioned its air defenses had shot down 116 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory in a single day into Saturday.
Efrem Lukatsky / AP
Russian Telegram information channel Astra mentioned Ukraine struck Russia’s Ryazan Oil Refinery, sharing footage showing to point out a hearth breaking out and plumes of smoke rising above the refinery. The Related Press couldn’t independently confirm the video.
Ukraine didn’t instantly touch upon the alleged assault. Ryazan regional Gov. Pavel Malkov mentioned a residential constructing had been broken in a drone assault and that drone particles had fallen on the grounds of an “industrial facility,” however didn’t point out the refinery.
Months of Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on Russian refineries have aimed to deprive Moscow of the oil export income it must pursue the warfare. In the meantime, Kyiv and its western allies say Russia is making an attempt to cripple the Ukrainian energy grid and deny civilians entry to warmth, mild and operating water for a fourth consecutive winter, in what Ukrainian officers name “weaponizing” the chilly.
The newest spherical of assaults got here as President Trump’s advisers and Ukrainian officers met for a 3rd day of talks on Saturday, after making progress on discovering settlement on a safety framework for postwar Ukraine.
Following Friday’s talks, the 2 sides additionally provided the sober evaluation that any “actual progress towards any settlement” finally will rely “on Russia’s readiness to point out critical dedication to long-term peace.”
The assertion from U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in addition to Ukrainian negotiators Rustem Umerov and Andriy Hnatov got here after they met for a second day in Florida on Friday. They provided solely broad brushstrokes in regards to the progress they are saying has been made as Trump pushes Kyiv and Moscow to comply with a U.S.-mediated proposal to finish practically 4 years of warfare.
Ukrainian officers plan to temporary Zelenskyy Monday on what transpired within the U.S. discussions this week, a Ukrainian official advised CBS Information Saturday evening. A senior U.S. official advised CBS Information that talks would proceed Sunday, however a Ukrainian official mentioned any contact wound must be on-line because of the Monday temporary.
