RUSSIA carried out an extensive overnight missile and drone strike across Ukraine on Friday into Saturday, as U.S. and Ukrainian officials prepared for a third day of talks aimed at establishing a postwar security framework.
The attack coincided with Ukraine’s Armed Forces Day, the country’s air force confirmed.
AP reported on Saturday that Ukraine cited the barrage involved 653 drones and 51 missiles targeting multiple regions, including power stations and critical energy infrastructure.
Ukrainian forces intercepted 585 drones and 30 missiles, but 29 locations were struck, and at least three people were injured in the Kyiv region. Drone activity was observed as far west as Lviv, underscoring the wide reach of the assault.
“Russia carried out a massive missile-drone attack on power stations and other energy infrastructure in several Ukrainian regions,” Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s national energy operator, wrote on Telegram.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported that its air defenses had downed 116 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight. Russian Telegram channel Astra shared video appearing to show a fire at the Ryazan Oil Refinery, allegedly caused by Ukrainian drones.
The footage has not been independently verified, and Ukrainian officials did not immediately comment. Ryazan regional Governor Pavel Malkov confirmed that a residential building was damaged by falling drone debris, but did not specifically reference the refinery.
Months of Ukrainian long-range drone operations have targeted Russian refineries to reduce Moscow’s oil export revenue, while Kyiv and its Western allies contend that Russia is attempting to deliberately cripple Ukraine’s power grid to deny civilians heat, electricity, and water during a fourth consecutive winter—a tactic Ukrainian authorities have described as “weaponising” the cold.
The attacks occurred as U.S. President Donald Trump’s advisers, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, met with Ukrainian negotiators Rustem Umerov and Andriy Hnatov for a second day of discussions in Florida on Friday.
The talks focused on a U.S.-mediated plan to end nearly four years of conflict, with both sides emphasising that progress depends on Russia’s willingness to commit seriously to a long-term peace.
“Any real progress toward any agreement ultimately will depend on Russia’s readiness to show serious commitment to long-term peace,” the negotiators said in a joint statement. They offered only broad outlines of the discussions, as efforts continue to find a security framework acceptable to both Kyiv and Moscow. - December 6, 2025
