Additional Coverage:
Kyiv Rocked by Deadly Strikes as Peace Talks Intensify; Ukrainian Official Resigns Amid Probe
Kyiv, Ukraine – Early Saturday morning, a barrage of Russian drone and missile attacks in and around the Ukrainian capital claimed the lives of at least three people, local officials reported. These strikes coincide with a critical moment for the embattled nation, as Ukrainian representatives travel to the United States to kickstart renewed efforts to end the ongoing conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on X that a delegation, led by national security chief Rustem Umerov, is en route to the U.S. with the aim of “swiftly and substantively work[ing] out the steps needed to end the war.” A U.S. delegation is anticipated to travel to Moscow next week for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Kyiv City Military Administration stated that two individuals died in the capital’s strikes, while the regional police confirmed one fatality and eight injuries from a combined missile and drone assault in the broader Kyiv region. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported 29 people wounded in Kyiv, noting that falling debris from intercepted Russian drones damaged residential buildings and caused power outages in the city’s western areas.
The escalation of attacks comes amidst a flurry of diplomatic activity. Last week, U.S.
President Donald Trump unveiled a 28-point plan to end the nearly four-year war. The proposal, which was perceived as heavily favoring Russia, prompted immediate engagement from President Zelenskyy with American negotiators.
European leaders, apprehensive about the implications of Russian aggression, are reportedly working to ensure their concerns are addressed in the ongoing negotiations.
President Trump announced on Tuesday that his peace plan has been “fine-tuned” and that he is dispatching envoy Steve Witkoff to Russia to meet with Putin, and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to engage with Ukrainian officials. He hinted at potential future meetings with both Putin and Zelenskyy once sufficient progress is made in the negotiations.
Adding another layer of complexity to the situation, President Zelenskyy announced Friday the resignation of his chief of staff, Andrii Yermak. Yermak, who also served as Ukraine’s lead negotiator with the U.S., stepped down following an anti-corruption investigation that included a search of his residence. This unprecedented probe at the heart of the Ukrainian government poses a significant challenge to President Zelenskyy’s negotiating strategy, particularly as Kyiv faces mounting pressure from the U.S. to finalize a peace agreement.
Meanwhile, a major oil terminal near Russia’s Novorossiysk port halted operations Saturday after an attack by unmanned boats damaged one of its three mooring points. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), owner of the terminal, confirmed the incident.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, took responsibility for the attack, stating on Telegram that “Ukrainian special forces worked on the Russian Federation, its energy sector and infrastructure. In particular, naval drones managed to destroy one of the three oil tanker berths of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium in the Novorossiysk area.”
This strike is part of a broader Ukrainian strategy of long-range drone attacks on Russian refineries and terminals, designed to curtail Moscow’s oil export revenue, which funds its war efforts.
Kyiv and its Western allies accuse Russia of attempting to cripple Ukraine’s power grid, aiming to deprive civilians of heat, light, and running water for a fourth consecutive winter-a tactic Ukrainian officials describe as “weaponizing” the harsh cold. An anonymous Ukrainian security service (SBU) official revealed that domestically produced Sea Baby naval drones were used to strike two oil tankers in the Black Sea on Friday afternoon.
These tankers, the Kairos and Virat, are believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” which operates to evade sanctions. While both vessels were hit, their crews were reported safe.
The SBU official provided video evidence of the alleged attack, stating, “The SBU continues to take active steps to curtail Russia’s financial capabilities to wage war against Ukraine. Sea Baby naval drones disabled ships that could transport oil worth almost $70 million and helped the Kremlin circumvent international sanctions.”