Russia carried out one of its largest overnight assaults on Ukraine in recent months. The attack started late Friday and continued into Saturday. It happened just as officials from Washington and Kyiv prepared for the third straight day of talks. These discussions focus on finding a way to end the war, which has lasted nearly four years.

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 653 drones and 51 missiles during the assault. Air-raid sirens echoed across the country. The timing also matched Ukraine’s Armed Forces Day, adding to the emotional impact of the strike.

Although Ukrainian defences intercepted 585 drones and 30 missiles, the military confirmed that 29 locations were still hit.

Injuries Reported in Kyiv and Other Areas

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said at least eight people were injured during the overnight strikes. He added that three of them were in the Kyiv region.

Authorities also spotted drone activity in western parts of Ukraine, including the Lviv region, showing how far the attack reached.

Power Stations and Energy Sites Were the Main Targets

Ukraine’s national energy operator, Ukrenergo, described the incident as a “massive missile-drone attack”. The strikes mainly hit power stations and other parts of the energy network in several regions.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that energy facilities were the key targets. He also revealed that a drone strike “burned down” the train station in the city of Fastiv, which is located in the Kyiv region.

These attacks raised new concerns about electricity shortages and infrastructure breakdowns across the country.

Russia Claims It Shot Down Ukrainian Drones

Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems destroyed 116 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory during the same night.

Meanwhile, Russian Telegram channel Astra claimed that Ukrainian forces had struck the Ryazan Oil Refinery. It shared video footage showing a fire and thick smoke rising from the site. However, the Associated Press could not independently verify the video.

Ukraine did not immediately comment on this claim.

Ryazan Governor Mentions Damage but Not the Refinery

Ryazan’s regional governor, Pavel Malkov, said a residential building had been damaged in a drone attack. He also stated that drone debris landed on the grounds of an “industrial facility.” However, he did not mention the oil refinery directly.

For months, Ukraine has carried out long-range drone strikes on Russian refineries. These attacks aim to cut off Russia’s oil export income, which helps fund the war.

At the same time, Kyiv and its Western allies accuse Moscow of trying to destroy Ukraine’s power system. They say Russia wants to block access to heat, electricity, and water for a fourth winter in a row, a strategy Ukrainian officials describe as “weaponizing” the cold.

Attacks Occur as New Talks Begin

The latest wave of violence happened as advisers to U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian officials prepared for a third day of negotiations on Saturday.

These talks focus on forming a security framework for Ukraine after the war. Officials from both sides said some progress has been made during the earlier meetings.

“Real progress” Depends on Russia’s Willingness

After Friday’s discussions, both sides shared a cautious view. They warned that any “real progress toward any agreement” would depend “on Russia’s readiness to show serious commitment to long-term peace.”

This statement came from U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Ukrainian negotiators Rustem Umerov and Andriy Hnatov following their second day of talks in Florida.

They gave only broad hints about developments but stressed that Washington is pushing both Kyiv and Moscow to accept a U.S.-mediated plan to end the nearly four-year-long conflict.