KYIV, Ukraine – Russia launched a significant missile and drone assault on Ukraine overnight into Saturday, coinciding with U.S. and Ukrainian officials’ announcement of their third day of talks on the ongoing conflict. The bombardment involved the deployment of 653 drones and 51 missiles, triggering air raid alerts throughout Ukraine, as reported by the country's air force.
Ukrainian defensive measures successfully intercepted and neutralized 585 drones and 30 missiles during the attack. Despite such efforts, at least three individuals sustained injuries in the Kyiv region, according to local authorities. Drone activity was observed as far afield as the Lviv region in western Ukraine.
Russia's missile-drone strike targeted power stations and other critical energy infrastructure across multiple Ukrainian regions. This information was shared by Ukraine’s national energy operator, Ukrenergo, through a Telegram post. In response, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed its air defenses managed to shoot down 116 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory in the same timeframe.
Amid these developments, reports emerged from the Russian Telegram news channel Astra indicating that Ukraine had targeted Russia’s Ryazan Oil Refinery. The channel shared video footage that appeared to show a fire occurring at the facility, with smoke rising above. However, the Associated Press could not independently verify the authenticity of this video. In reaction to these claims, Ryazan regional Governor Pavel Malkov confirmed damage to a residential building due to a drone attack, mentioning debris from a drone falling on the grounds of an “industrial facility,” but he did not specifically refer to the refinery.
The recent drone strikes on Russian oil refineries represent Ukraine's ongoing strategy to undermine Moscow's oil export revenue, which is fundamental for sustaining the war effort. Meanwhile, Ukrainian and western officials have voiced concerns that Russia is intent on devastating the Ukrainian power grid, denying civilians essential services such as heat, light, and running water during the harsh winter months. This tactic has been described by Ukrainian officials as an attempt to “weaponize” the cold against the population.
The missile and drone assaults come as U.S. President Donald Trump’s advisers and Ukrainian representatives convened for their third consecutive day of discussions. After Friday’s proceedings, both sides acknowledged that any significant advancement towards a potential agreement hinges on Russia’s willingness to demonstrate a genuine commitment to long-term peace.
The remarks from U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Ukrainian negotiators Rustem Umerov and Andriy Hnatov followed a second day of talks in Florida. They provided only vague outlines of the progress reported, as Trump urges both Kyiv and Moscow toward a U.S.-mediated proposal to conclude nearly four years of warfare.
For updates on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, please refer to the AP’s dedicated coverage page.
