Ukraine: Russia hits Kyiv with airstrikes ahead of trilateral talks
Ukrainian authorities report one death and eight injuries as energy infrastructure is targeted
Quick Look
Russia launched overnight strikes on Kyiv and surrounding areas using 172 drones and 36 ballistic missiles, hitting the Northern Bridge, Meridian Plant, and energy facilities across Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions, killing one person and wounding eight, days before trilateral talks between Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington in Abu Dhabi.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Russia has stepped up airstrikes on Ukraine in recent months, targeting energy infrastructure and major cities, and more recently hitting bridges. Previous rounds of US-brokered talks have failed to achieve any breakthroughs, with territorial and security questions remaining major points of contention.
Russia launched strikes on Kyiv and surrounding areas overnight, Russian and Ukrainian authorities said on Saturday.
Russia's Defense Ministry said the strikes hit the Northern Bridge and the Meridian Plant.
Moscow said that the bridge was being used by the Ukrainian military to transport weapons and military equipment, while the plant is used to produce Flamingo cruise missiles.
It said the strikes damaged several energy and industrial facilities in the Kyiv region, as well as an electricity substation in the neighboring Zhytomyr region and a cargo vessel in the Black Sea.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the strikes on the Northern Bridge, adding that the Ukrainian capital found itself 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.
Ukrainian authorities said that one person was killed and eight were wounded in the overnight attack.
In a statement on social media, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia used 172 drones and 36 ballistic missiles during the attack.
He said that Russia was trying to "push Kyiv … and the entire country into a blackout" and repeated his call for increased support from the United States.
Russia has stepped up airstrikes on Ukraine in recent months, targeting energy infrastructure and major cities, and more recently hitting bridges.
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.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Trilateral talks between Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington will take place in Abu Dhabi as scheduled
Very likely · Within days
Russia will continue targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What specific damage was sustained at the Meridian Plant and Northern Bridge?
- What is the status of power, heating, and water supplies in Kyiv following the strikes?
- What is the agenda and expected outcome of the fourth round of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi?
- What was the outcome of the evacuation of 800 residents from Oleshky?
