Russia launched a major drone and missile attack targeting Ukraine’s two largest cities, 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.
“Peace efforts? Trilateral meeting in the UAE? Diplomacy? For Ukrainians, this was another night of Russian terror,” the country’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, said after the latest Russian assault on critical infrastructure. He added: “Cynically, Putin ordered a brutal massive missile strike against Ukraine right while delegations are meeting in Abu Dhabi to advance the America-led peace process.”
Despite the latest wave of attacks, talks resumed on Saturday morning. When they broke up later in the day, both sides suggested they were open to more dialogue, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy describing the talks as constructive and suggesting another round could be held as early as next week.
The Ukrainian air force said Russia had used 396 drones and missiles in the attacks. Officials warned that up to 80% of the country faced emergency power cuts. In Kyiv, one person was killed and at least 15 injured. Engineers said 6,000 apartment blocks were without heat on Saturday morning, up from 2,000 in previous days. Initial estimates suggested at least 1.2 million consumers were without power across the country, including 800,000 in the capital.
In Kharkiv, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said 25 drones had hit several districts over two and a half hours, with at least 14 people injured. Drones struck a dormitory for displaced people, a hospital and a maternity hospital.
The strikes come amid a worsening mid-winter energy crisis. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said about 1,940 residential buildings were without heating after renewed attacks, adding “and this may not be the most difficult moment yet”. About 600,000 residents have fled the city temporarily during the January power crisis.
