Russia strikes Kyiv region ahead of planned trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi

Russia launched strikes on Kyiv and surrounding areas overnight, Russian and Ukrainian authorities said on Saturday.

Strikes on the Kyiv region

Ukrainian authorities said one person was killed and eight were wounded in the overnight attack. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia used 172 drones and 36 ballistic missiles during the attack.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed strikes on the Northern Bridge, saying the capital was in an "extremely difficult" situation regarding power, heating and water supplies. Overnight temperatures dropped to 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) in the city.

The Kyiv region's governor, Tymur Tkachenko, said energy facilities in three of its districts had been hit.

Zelenskyy said Russia was trying to "push Kyiv … and the entire country into a blackout" and repeated his call for increased support from the United States.

Trilateral talks

The strikes come days before a fourth round of trilateral talks between Kyiv, Moscow and Washington in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Previous rounds of US-brokered talks have failed to achieve any breakthroughs, with territorial and security questions remaining major points of contention.

On Friday, US President Donald Trump said the war could be close to being settled and that he envisioned a "big, beautiful agreement" with Moscow that involves "all of Europe."

Last Friday, a six-day local ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in the southern Kherson region enabled the evacuation of some 800 residents. The brief truce was brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump.

Why it matters

The attacks on energy infrastructure occur as diplomatic efforts to end the war continue, highlighting the gap between military pressure and negotiation. Zelenskyy has called for more US support, including Patriot air defense interceptors, ahead of the Abu Dhabi talks.

---

Sources

• dw.com: Russia hits Kyiv with airstrikes ahead of trilateral talks
• aol.com: Russia and Ukraine exchange airstrikes as US envoy describes renewed security talks as productive - AOL
• ctvnews.ca: Ukraine news: Airstrikes traded as security talks resume
• hindustantimes.com: Ukraine's Zelensky discusses war efforts with Trump envoys ahead of trilateral talks with Russia | Hindustan Times

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.