Russia and Ukraine Trade Overnight Attacks as US Ceasefire Push Stalls
Russia and Ukraine reported heavy overnight attacks as renewed United States efforts to broker a ceasefire showed little visible progress. Russia’s Defence Ministry said it intercepted 1,198 Ukrainian drones across more than 15 regions, while Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 467 drones had targeted the capital. Oil infrastructure was among the reported targets, reflecting Ukraine’s continuing campaign against facilities linked to Russia’s energy revenues. In Volgograd, attacks on an industrial area killed four people and injured two, according to regional Governor Andrei Bocharov. Unverified social-media video appeared to show the city’s oil refinery on fire, but officials did not confirm that it had been attacked.
Ukraine said Russian forces struck the southern port city of Odesa from early Friday, killing at least two people, while attacks were continuing. Russia said it had targeted a cargo ship in the Black Sea carrying weapons and military equipment for Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian emergency officials reported six people injured in the southeastern Zaporizhia district, and a Russian drone attack also set fire to a hospital in Kyiv, injuring one person.
The attacks followed meetings by US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Russian and Ukrainian negotiators had agreed in Abu Dhabi to a major prisoner exchange but made no progress on ending the war. Territorial control, security guarantees and Europe’s role remain unresolved, with European governments still divided over whether to appoint a lead negotiator.
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