Russia Launches Massive Missile and Drone Barrage on Ukraine as Kyiv Reports Key Talks With U.S. Officials

Ukraine endured one of its heaviest overnight assaults in months as Russia fired waves of missiles and drones at cities and energy sites across the country. Hours later, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he held a “substantive” call with senior U.S. officials on efforts to move closer to a durable peace.

The discussions, Zelenskyy said, were constructive but hinged on a central question: whether Moscow is prepared to demonstrate “serious commitment to a long-term peace” after nearly four years of war. Kyiv and Washington delivered a joint message noting that any meaningful progress would ultimately depend on Russia’s readiness to show credible intent.

Russia’s Overnight Attack Hits Energy Sites and Civilian Infrastructure

The massive missile and drone attack began late Friday and continued into early Saturday, triggering countrywide air raid alerts that lasted for hours. Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 653 drones and 51 missiles, one of the largest combined strikes in the past year.

Ukrainian air defences intercepted 585 drones and 30 missiles, but the scale of the attack meant multiple regions were still hit. Twenty-nine locations suffered damage, according to the air force.

At least eight people were injured, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said, noting that casualty figures could rise as emergency workers clear debris and inspect damaged buildings.

The national energy operator, Ukrenergo, described the assault as a “massive missile-drone attack” focused on power stations and other critical infrastructure. The strikes come as Ukraine enters the coldest period of winter, when the power grid is most vulnerable and civilians rely heavily on heating and uninterrupted electricity.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, located in Russian-occupied territory, temporarily lost all external power overnight. Although the facility is not currently generating electricity, it requires a stable power supply to cool its shutdown reactors and spent fuel. The IAEA has repeatedly warned that repeated grid disruptions increase the risk of a nuclear safety incident.

Zelenskyy Calls Strikes ‘Meaningless’ Militarily, But Devastating for Civilians

President Zelenskyy condemned the attacks as “meaningless” from a military standpoint, saying Moscow’s aim was to disrupt daily life for millions of Ukrainians.

He said the main focus was energy infrastructure, but the damage extended beyond power facilities. A drone strike ignited a fire at a railway station in Fastiv, a commuter hub southwest of Kyiv.

“The Russians’ goal is to hurt millions of Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy said, noting that the attack fell on St. Nicholas Day, a winter holiday widely celebrated in Ukraine. “That is why additional pressure is needed. Sanctions must work, and so must our air defence.”

Kyiv has long argued that Russia is deliberately striking energy facilities to weaponise winter, an accusation echoed by Western governments. During previous cold seasons, Russia attempted similar large-scale attacks aimed at plunging cities into darkness and disrupting heat and water supplies.

Ukraine Hits Back, Targets Russian Oil Infrastructure

Russia’s defence ministry said its forces intercepted 116 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions. Local Russian officials reported strikes near industrial sites, including an early-morning fire at the Ryazan Oil Refinery, one of the country’s largest facilities for processing crude.

Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed that its forces conducted strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, though it did not provide specifics. Videos posted by Russian Telegram channel Astra appeared to show flames and thick smoke rising from the refinery.

Kyiv has increasingly used long-range drones to target Russian refineries, energy storage sites and logistics hubs. Western defence analysts say the tactic seeks to reduce Moscow’s ability to finance the war through oil exports and to disrupt supply lines that feed Russian forces fighting across eastern and southern Ukraine.

Kyiv Emphasises Diplomacy but Says Outcome Depends on Moscow

Zelenskyy described his call with senior U.S. officials as a “substantive conversation” centred on ways to bring closer an end to the conflict. He said Ukraine remained committed to working “in good faith” with Washington and other partners pursuing a framework for peace.

But the Ukrainian leader stressed that no diplomatic process could succeed without Moscow’s cooperation.

U.S. officials have echoed that position in recent months, signalling support for Ukrainian sovereignty while noting that any path toward a negotiated settlement hinges on Russia’s approach. Washington has also sought to maintain steady military and budgetary assistance to Kyiv, alongside broader European commitments.

Ukraine is preparing for another difficult winter, as Russia appears to be renewing its strategy of air strikes against the power grid. The frequency of large-scale attacks has risen sharply since early autumn, coinciding with Russia’s efforts to push forward on several front-line areas.

Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to face ammunition shortages, though fresh Western assistance packages are expected to ease some of the pressure in the coming months.