Russia unleashes assault on Ukraine as diplomatic talks proceed : NPR

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Efrem Lukatsky/AP KYIV, Ukraine — Russia unleashed a significant missile and drone barrage on Ukraine in a single day into Saturday, after U.S. and Ukrainian officers mentioned they will meet on Saturday for a 3rd day of talks aimed toward ending the almost 4-year-old warfare.

Russia used 653 drones and 51 missiles within the wide-reaching assault, which triggered air raid alerts throughout the nation and got here as Ukraine marked Armed Forces Day, the nation's air pressure mentioned Saturday morning.

Ukrainian forces shot down and neutralized 585 drones and 30 missiles, the air pressure mentioned, including that 29 areas had been struck.

No less than eight folks had been wounded within the assaults, Ukrainian Minister of Inner Affairs Ihor Klymenko mentioned.

Amongst these, at the least three folks had been wounded within the Kyiv area, in line with native officers. Drone sightings had been reported as far west as Ukraine's Lviv area.

Russia carried out a "huge missile-drone assault" on energy stations and different power infrastructure in a number of Ukrainian areas, Ukraine's nationwide power operator, Ukrenergo, wrote on Telegram.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that power services had been the principle targets of the assaults, additionally noting {that a} drone strike had "burned down" the practice station within the metropolis of Fastiv, positioned within the Kyiv area.

Russia's Ministry of Protection mentioned its air defenses had shot down 116 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory in a single day into Saturday.

Russian Telegram information channel Astra mentioned Ukraine struck Russia's Ryazan Oil Refinery, sharing footage showing to indicate a hearth breaking out and plumes of smoke rising above the refinery. The Related Press couldn't independently confirm the video.

Ukraine didn't instantly touch upon the alleged assault. Ryazan regional Gov. Pavel Malkov mentioned a residential constructing had been broken in a drone assault and that drone particles had fallen on the grounds of an "industrial facility," however didn't point out the refinery.

Months of Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on Russian refineries have aimed to deprive Moscow of the oil export income it must pursue the warfare. In the meantime, Kyiv and its western allies say Russia is making an attempt to cripple the Ukrainian energy grid and deny civilians entry to warmth, gentle and operating water for a fourth consecutive winter, in what Ukrainian officers name "weaponizing" the chilly.

The most recent spherical of assaults got here as U.S. President Donald Trump's advisers and Ukrainian officers mentioned they will meet for a 3rd day of talks on Saturday, after making progress on discovering settlement on a safety framework for postwar Ukraine.

Following Friday's talks, the 2 sides additionally supplied the sober evaluation that any "actual progress towards any settlement" in the end will rely "on Russia's readiness to indicate critical dedication to long-term peace."

The assertion from U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in addition to Ukrainian negotiators Rustem Umerov and Andriy Hnatov got here after they met for a second day in Florida on Friday. They supplied solely broad brushstrokes concerning the progress they are saying has been made as Trump pushes Kyiv and Moscow to conform to a U.S.-mediated proposal to finish almost 4 years of warfare.