Russia has launched a devastating barrage of nearly 140 kamikaze drones against Ukraine, striking overnight as crucial peace negotiations between the two nations and the United States concluded without a deal in Abu Dhabi.
Peace Talks Collapse Amid Kremlin's Territorial Demands
The high-stakes diplomatic discussions ended in failure despite White House envoy Steve Witkoff describing them as "constructive." This optimistic assessment came in stark contrast to the Kremlin's unwavering position, with spokesman Dmitry Perskov explicitly stating Russia's demand for control over Ukraine's Donbas region.
Perskov emphasised: "It's no secret that this is our consistent position, the position of our president, that the territorial issue, which is part of the Anchorage formula, is of fundamental importance to the Russian side." This reference to the "Anchorage formula" relates to what Russia claims was agreed upon by former US President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin during their Alaska summit last August.
Massive Drone Assault Targets Ukrainian Defences
As diplomatic efforts faltered, Russian military commanders ordered a massive wave of 138 kamikaze drones to be fired from six different directions. This coordinated assault specifically targeted Ukraine's ground-to-air defence systems in the northern and eastern regions of the country.
Ukrainian Air Force reports indicate Russia deployed various drone types, including Iranian-designed Shahed and Gerbera unmanned aerial vehicles. Defence sources revealed to the Daily Mirror that Russian forces are increasingly employing decoy drones in their attacks, aiming to overwhelm and deplete Ukraine's valuable air defence missile stocks.
A defence source explained: "By forcing Ukraine to expend valuable ground to air missiles they hope to deplete Kyiv's ability to defend itself against drone attacks."
Ukrainian Response and Civilian Impact
Ukrainian air defences managed to intercept approximately 110 of the incoming drones across northern and eastern territories by morning. However, 21 weapons successfully struck eleven different locations, with debris from downed drones causing additional damage in civilian areas.
Russian drone and missile strikes have severely damaged heating and electricity infrastructure throughout Ukraine, creating unprecedented energy blackouts that have made the 2025-2026 winter unbearable for millions of residents. Many Kyiv residents now rely on emergency heating points, rescuers, and field kitchens for basic necessities including hot drinks.
Meanwhile, intense fighting continues along the frontline, with at least 66 separate battles raging yesterday as both sides exchanged cross-border missile and drone attacks. Russian forces concentrated their assaults on the Zaporizhzhia region, hitting civilian buildings and sparking major fires, though no casualties were immediately reported.
Diplomatic Developments and Security Guarantees
Despite the military escalation and failed negotiations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attempted to maintain a positive outlook regarding potential security guarantees from the United States in the event of a future peace deal. During a visit to Lithuania, Zelensky stressed the shared threat facing Eastern European countries from Russian aggression.
Zelensky stated: "We have a common enemy. This has endured for more than four years of full-scale war, more than years of hybrid warfare, more than the reigns of both Soviet Moscow and imperial Petersburg." He added: "For us, security guarantees are first and foremost guarantees of security from the United States."
Further negotiations are scheduled to restart on February 1, though the Kremlin has reasserted its claim over the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, which Russian forces have mostly occupied through military invasion. The combination of intensified military action and unresolved diplomatic positions suggests the conflict shows little sign of imminent resolution.
