Russia launched a significant missile and drone attack on Ukraine overnight Saturday, coinciding with ongoing discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian officials aimed at resolving the nearly four-year conflict. The talks, which are in their third day, have reportedly made progress on establishing a security framework for postwar Ukraine. However, officials cautioned that any substantial agreement hinges on Russia's willingness to commit to long-term peace.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Ukrainian negotiators Rustem Umerov and Andriy Hnatov shared this assessment after their second day of meetings in Florida. They provided limited details about the progress made, as former President Donald Trump encourages both Kyiv and Moscow to consider a U.S.-mediated proposal to end the war.

In the overnight assault, Russia deployed 653 drones and 51 missiles, triggering air raid alerts across Ukraine. The Ukrainian air force reported that its forces successfully intercepted 585 drones and 30 missiles, although 29 locations were still struck. At least eight individuals were injured, with three of those injuries occurring in the Kyiv region.

The attacks targeted energy infrastructure, including power stations, as Ukraine celebrated Armed Forces Day. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that energy facilities were primary targets, noting that a drone strike caused significant damage to a train station in Fastiv, located in the Kyiv region.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant temporarily lost all off-site power during the attack. This facility, under Russian control since the early days of the invasion, requires a stable power supply to cool its six shut-down reactors and spent fuel to prevent potential nuclear incidents.

In response to the drone and missile strikes, Russia's Ministry of Defense claimed to have shot down 116 Ukrainian drones over its territory. Additionally, reports emerged from a Russian Telegram news channel indicating that Ukraine targeted the Ryazan Oil Refinery, with footage showing a fire and smoke rising from the site. However, this claim could not be independently verified, and Ukrainian officials did not comment on the incident.

Ryazan regional Governor Pavel Malkov confirmed that a residential building was damaged in a drone attack, with debris landing on an industrial facility, but he did not specify that it was the refinery.

Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on Russian refineries have been part of a strategy to disrupt Moscow's oil export revenue, which is crucial for sustaining the war effort. Meanwhile, Kyiv and its allies accuse Russia of attempting to undermine the Ukrainian power grid, aiming to deprive civilians of essential services such as heat, light, and running water during the winter months. This tactic has been described by Ukrainian officials as "weaponizing" the cold.