Russia Launches Massive Drone and Missile Barrage on Ukraine as Miami Peace Talks Continue
Russia unleashed one of its largest overnight assaults on Ukraine this year, firing more than 650 drones and 51 missiles across the country early Saturday, even as US-Ukrainian peace talks continued in Miami. According to Ukraine’s armed forces, the strikes targeted multiple regions — including areas in the far west , hundreds of miles from the
frontline. Air-raid sirens also sounded in eastern Poland , near the Ukrainian border, after drone activity was detected. Ukrainian officials reported at least three injuries in the Kyiv region. National energy operator Ukrenergo confirmed that Russia focused heavily on power plants and critical energy infrastructure , continuing a campaign aimed at crippling Ukraine’s electricity, heating and water systems as the country braces for a fourth winter of full-scale war . Meanwhile, Russia’s defence ministry claimed it had shot down 116 Ukrainian drones over its own territory. Unconfirmed reports on Telegram suggested that Ukrainian forces may have struck an oil refinery in Ryazan , where debris also reportedly hit a residential building and an industrial site. Peace talks drag on with little progress The escalation comes as US and Ukrainian negotiators meet for a third day of talks in Miami , part of a White House push to secure a path toward ending the conflict. Despite the diplomatic effort, officials say the two sides remain far apart . Former US president Donald Trump has pressed to end the war quickly, but substantial disagreements persist. Earlier this week, Trump allies Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held discussions with Vladimir Putin in Moscow — a move that has unsettled some European partners. US vice-president JD Vance acknowledged the ongoing challenges, telling NBC on Friday: “The Russia-Ukraine thing has been a source of perennial frustration for the entire White House… We were surprised it wasn’t easier to solve.” Europe uneasy but urges unity European leaders, caught off guard by Washington’s shifting tone, are scrambling to remain central to the peace process. Speaking in Qatar on Saturday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas dismissed suggestions that the bloc is being sidelined by the Trump administration’s newly published national security strategy. The document warned that Europe faces “civilisational erasure” due to immigration and hinted that the US may increasingly support right-wing movements across the continent. Kallas sought to downplay tensions: “The US is still our biggest ally. We haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, but the overall principle remains — we are allies, and we should stay together.”