Russia strikes Kyiv power grid and bridge ahead of talks

· Security · Ukraine · Russia

Russia launched a major overnight barrage of missiles and drones at energy infrastructure around Kyiv and damaged a bridge over the Dnipro River, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of trying to 'plunge Kyiv and the entire country into a blackout'. Explosions rocked the capital as temperatures headed toward zero, straining power and heating systems. Only four of 36 ballistic-type missiles were intercepted, according to reports. The attacks came days before Ukrainian and Russian delegations are due to join US-brokered trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi next week. Russia has expanded its campaign to target Kyiv's bridges, snarling traffic in a city of more than 3 million people.

Why it matters：Strikes on power and transport ahead of US-brokered talks test whether diplomacy can advance while Russia escalates pressure on Ukraine's capital.

Key points

  • Russia used 172 drones and 36 ballistic missiles in the overnight attack, according to reports.
  • A bridge over the Dnipro was damaged and at least one civilian was killed.
  • Trilateral talks with the US are due in Abu Dhabi next week.

Sources (original reporting)

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