As the United States steps up diplomatic efforts to help end the Russia–Ukraine war, fighting on the ground has intensified. Both Russia and Ukraine launched powerful overnight strikes against one another, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Intense Overnight Strikes Leave Infrastructure Damaged and Civilians Injured
Russia carried out an unusually large wave of attacks on Saturday night. AP reported that Moscow launched 653 drones and 51 missiles toward Ukraine, targeting 29 locations including the capital, Kyiv. Air-raid sirens blared across several cities throughout the night as Ukraine’s air-defense units intercepted 585 drones and 30 missiles.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said at least eight people were injured, including three in the Kyiv region. Drones were also spotted as far west as Lviv. Ukraine’s national energy operator Ukrenergo confirmed that Russia focused its attacks on energy facilities.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently under Russian control, briefly lost external power overnight. Although the plant is not operating, it still needs constant electricity to cool reactors and spent fuel, raising safety concerns.
President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Ukraine’s energy sector was again a primary target and confirmed that a drone strike destroyed the railway station in Fastiv, near Kyiv. Russia, on the other hand, claimed its air defenses shot down 116 Ukrainian drones. Some Russian Telegram channels reported an attack on the Ryazan oil refinery, later acknowledged by Ukraine’s General Staff.
U.S. and Ukraine Hold Security Talks Amid Ongoing Diplomacy
In the United States, officials from both countries are holding a third day of discussions in Florida focused on Ukraine’s post-war security arrangements. President Zelensky said he held a serious phone call with American and Ukrainian officials involved in the talks.
Envoys for U.S. President Donald Trump—Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—along with Ukrainian negotiators Rustem Umerov and Andriy Hnatov, said any future agreement will depend heavily on Russia’s willingness to commit to long-term peace.
Leaders from Ukraine, the U.K., France, and Germany are also preparing to meet Zelensky in London on Monday.
Why Donbas Remains a Critical Battleground for Both Countries
Russia has repeatedly declared that it will not give up control of the Donbas region. During a recent visit to India, President Vladimir Putin told India Today that Russia would secure control of the area “whether through military action or negotiations.”
After annexing Crimea in 2014, Moscow accused Ukraine—without evidence—of mistreating Russian-speaking residents in Donbas. Russia fueled separatist movements there and even deployed unmarked troops. Yet despite launching a full-scale invasion in 2022, Moscow still has not captured the entire region.
Donbas consists of Luhansk and Donetsk. While most of Luhansk is under Russian control, around 20 percent of Donetsk remains in Ukrainian hands. Donetsk’s ports, rail networks, industries, and coal and iron ore reserves underline its strategic importance, although years of war have devastated much of the infrastructure.
For President Putin, taking full control of Donbas has become a matter of political prestige. For Ukraine, the region symbolizes sacrifice—thousands of soldiers have died defending it. President Zelensky has rejected any peace deal requiring Ukraine to surrender territory, warning that Russia could attack again later, making such concessions dangerous and unacceptable.
