Russia and Ukraine exchange major strikes before Abu Dhabi peace talks
Russia launched 317 drones and attacked four electrical substations in Ukraine, while Ukrainian long-range drones caused a fire at the KINEF oil refinery near St. Petersburg. A Russian glide-bomb strike at an aid distribution center in Zaporizhzhia killed at least 55 people. The attacks came as U.S.-brokered talks on security guarantees began in Abu Dhabi, and the EU activated an emergency mechanism to accelerate funding for Ukraine’s power-grid repairs.
Key points
- Russia launched 317 drones overnight, including 105 jet-powered drones.
- Four electrical substations were targeted in Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy and Vinnytsia regions.
- At least 55 people were killed in a Russian glide-bomb strike at an aid distribution center in Zaporizhzhia.
- Ukrainian long-range drones started a fire at the KINEF oil refinery near St. Petersburg.
- The EU activated a special emergency mechanism to accelerate funding for Ukraine’s power-grid repairs.
- U.S.-brokered talks were scheduled to begin in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Donald Trump said Moscow and Kyiv were very close to a deal.
Why it matters
The attacks caused major humanitarian losses and damaged energy infrastructure immediately before negotiations. The Abu Dhabi talks were intended to explore guarantees that could address Russia’s security concerns while preventing future Russian invasions of Ukraine. Any settlement was also expected to require broader European security arrangements and difficult decisions by all parties.
What happened
Russia launched 317 drones overnight, including 105 jet-powered drones, and targeted electrical substations in Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy and Vinnytsia regions. A Russian glide-bomb attack near the front line in Zaporizhzhia killed at least 55 people at an aid distribution center. Ukraine responded with long-range attacks, including a strike that started a fire at the KINEF oil refinery near St. Petersburg and damaged three workshops at a solid-fuel and explosives factory. Ukrainian military officials said the factory produces solid fuel for TOPOL-M missile engines and solid-fuel charges for SCALD-EM ballistic missile engines. Local authorities in Belgorod also reported that a Ukrainian drone attack killed two people on Monday. The EU activated an emergency mechanism to accelerate funding for Ukraine’s power-grid repairs.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage emphasizes the scale of Russia’s drone and energy attacks, the deadly strike in Zaporizhzhia and the EU’s emergency funding for grid repairs. Ukrainian officials sought concrete protection against future invasions, an end to restrictions on grain exports, reduced Black Sea escalation, and a halt to attacks on Ukrainian power stations and Russian oil refineries before winter.
How international sources describe it
International coverage focuses on the two-day U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi, cautious optimism about a possible agreement and the broader European security arrangements needed for a settlement. It also highlights the dispute over whether European officials will attend, while the exchange of strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and Russian energy and military facilities forms the immediate backdrop to the negotiations.
Where reporting differs
Moscow said European officials would not participate in the Abu Dhabi discussions, while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said French and other European representatives would attend.
Background
The previous three-way talks in Geneva in February produced no significant progress toward ending the war. Russia sees NATO as a threat, while Ukraine wants to prevent future Russian invasions. Ukraine claimed in early October that its long-range strikes had neutralized more than half of Russia’s oil-refining capacity.