Missile strikes across Ukraine on Saturday wounded at least nine people, including a child, and caused power and water outages in the capital. The attacks come as the United States, under President Trump, readies for a fourth round of peace negotiations with Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi.
Trump administration’s diplomatic push
Negotiators from the three parties will meet on Tuesday in the United Arab Emirates’ capital. This will be the fourth set of talks brokered by the Trump administration, following the most recent Geneva session in February. The administration’s active role underscores its commitment to ending the war and protecting innocent civilians.
Impact of the latest missile barrage
Russian missiles hit Kyiv overnight, damaging homes, commercial properties and the city’s 892‑yard Northern Bridge, a key route to residential areas on the east bank of the Dnipro River. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said repairs are already under way and water pressure has been stabilized, though he described the city’s energy situation as “extremely difficult.”
Kateryna Korniichuk, 64, recounted the terror of the blast while sheltering with her granddaughter: “The first blast wave threw us against that wall and then against the other wall… No sleep, no peace — nothing. The children aren’t sleeping, and neither are we.”
Zelenskyy’s response and call for U.S. support
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks, saying Russia launched 36 ballistic missiles and 172 drones over Kyiv and surrounding regions. He warned that Russia’s aim was to plunge the city of millions into a blackout and urged Congress to provide bipartisan backing and stronger sanctions.
Russian claims and ongoing violence
Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed targeting the Northern Bridge, alleging it facilitated the transport of Ukrainian weaponry. It also claimed strikes on an industrial facility producing Flamingo missiles, a power station, an electrical substation and an ammunition plant in the Kyiv region, as well as a substation in Zhytomyr.
In the south, a recovery effort in the village of Komyshuvakha (Zaporizhzhia region) continued after a Russian guided‑bomb attack on a former school and aid shelter left 55 dead and dozens missing. Resident Mykola Krasnov, 72, searched for his wife, who was caught in the blast.
Ukrainian counter‑attacks
Ukraine also struck back, killing one person in Russia’s Belgorod region when a drone hit a private home in Grayvoron. Russia reported shooting down 411 Ukrainian drones across ten of its regions, as well as over Crimea and the Black and Azov Seas.
Looking ahead
The upcoming Abu Dhabi talks, facilitated by President Trump’s administration, aim to break the current impasse and address unresolved territorial and security questions. While the fighting continues, the diplomatic effort represents a hopeful step toward ending the suffering of Ukrainian civilians and restoring regional stability.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
