Russia launched a major drone and missile attack targeting Kyiv and Kharkiv early on Saturday, as US, Ukrainian and Russian negotiators met in the United Arab Emirates for a second day of tripartite peace talks. Ukraine's foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, described the assault as 'another night of Russian terror' and accused President Putin of ordering a 'brutal massive missile strike' while delegations were meeting in Abu Dhabi.
The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia used 396 drones and missiles in the attacks. In Kyiv, one person was killed and at least 15 injured, while officials warned that up to 80% of the country faced emergency power cuts. Engineers said 6,000 apartment blocks in the capital were without heat on Saturday morning, up from 2,000 in previous days.
In Kharkiv, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said 25 drones struck several districts over two and a half hours, injuring at least 14 people. The drones hit a dormitory for displaced people, a hospital, and a maternity hospital. The attacks come amid a worsening mid-winter energy crisis, with overnight temperatures dropping to -13°C.
Despite the strikes, the talks in Abu Dhabi resumed on Saturday morning. When they broke up later in the day, both sides suggested they were open to more dialogue. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the talks as constructive and indicated another round could be held as early as next week. However, the Russian attacks have raised doubts about Moscow's commitment to peace.
