Zelenskyy says Russia is stepping up attacks ahead of U.S. talks
Missile strikes across Ukraine wounded at least nine people as Kyiv and Moscow prepare for trilateral talks with the United States next week in Abu Dhabi.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia used 36 missiles and 172 drones in attacks across Ukraine, including Kyiv and 12 other regions. Only four missiles were intercepted, highlighting a shortage of defensive systems. The strikes damaged critical infrastructure and wounded at least nine people.
The attacks come as negotiators from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States prepare to meet on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. This will be the fourth round of talks brokered by the Trump administration, following previous discussions in Geneva in February.
Russia has a very particular view of diplomacy – as a subtype of aggression.
Infrastructure Damage
The Russian missiles damaged homes and commercial properties in Kyiv, causing new power and water outages. A kindergarten was partially destroyed in the attacks, according to Zelenskyy. The Northern Bridge, a major 892-yard route connecting the city with eastern residential areas, was also struck and closed for repairs.
Russia's Ministry of Defense confirmed targeting the bridge, claiming it facilitated transport of military equipment for Ukraine's forces. Ukraine's Energy Ministry reported damage to networks carrying electricity from nuclear power plants and multiple other power facilities, causing widespread outages in Kyiv, central Zhytomyr, and eastern regions.
Zelenskyy alleged that Russia used KN-23 missiles "manufactured and supplied by North Korea" in one attack, calling it "further proof that global sanctions regimes need to be significantly strengthened."
Southern Recovery
In southern Ukraine, recovery efforts continued in the village of Komyshuvakha, devastated by Russian guided bombs on Monday. Emergency services reported nine more bodies recovered, bringing the death toll to 55, with dozens still missing. The village is near the front line in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Resident Mykola Krasnov, 72, expressed desperation while searching for his wife who went to get humanitarian aid when a bomb struck. "She didn't come home, and they didn't find her body there. She isn't in the morgue, and she isn't here alive," he said.
Cross-Border Strikes
Russia reported Ukrainian drone strikes causing damage in several regions. A drone attack killed one person in Russia's Belgorod region when it hit a private home. Russia's Ministry of Defense claimed its forces shot down 411 Ukrainian drones overnight over 10 Russian regions, including Crimea and the Black Sea.
The head of Russia's Saratov region reported damage to "civilian infrastructure" and residential buildings, with media outlets later confirming the Saratov Oil Refinery was hit. In the Oryol region, Ukrainian attacks damaged commercial and production sites, including a plant producing military equipment components.
Related
