Major Russian barrage hits Ukraine amid peace talks

Russia launched one of its largest combined missile and drone assaults of the war overnight on December 6, striking targets across Ukraine just as U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators reported limited progress in talks aimed at ending the nearly four-year conflict, as reported by the AP.

According to Ukraine’s air force, Russian forces deployed 653 drones and 51 missiles in the overnight attack. Ukrainian defences intercepted 585 drones and 30 missiles, yet 29 locations were still hit. Ukraine’s minister of internal affairs, Ihor Klymenko, reported at least eight people wounded, including three in the Kyiv region. Drone activity was recorded as far west as the Lviv region.

The barrage, which Ukrainian officials described as wide-reaching and intense, coincides with continued diplomatic efforts in Florida to outline a the ceasefire and a postwar security framework.

Ukraine’s national energy operator, Ukrenergo, said the strike constituted a “massive missile-drone attack” on power stations and other critical energy sites. The International Atomic Energy Agency stated that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant temporarily lost all off-site power, a dangerous scenario even though the plant is not operational. Continuous power is required to cool its six shut-down reactors and spent fuel to prevent catastrophic failure.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is increasingly under pressure from within Ukraine as a sweeping corruption scandal shakes his inner circle. Most notably after Andriy Yermak, his once-trusted chief of staff and lead negotiator, resigned following a raid on his home by anti-corruption investigators.

The scandal centres on alleged kickbacks tied to the state nuclear energy company, implicating senior figures linked to the presidency such as Zelensky’s former business partner and close friend, Timur Mindich.

The military escalation unfolded as U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump adviser Jared Kushner, and Ukrainian negotiators Rustem Umerov and Andriy Hnatov prepared for a third round of discussions.

After meeting in Florida, the delegations said they had made progress on a potential security framework but cautioned that meaningful advancement toward a settlement depends on “Russia’s readiness to show serious commitment to long-term peace”.

AP, Maghrebi.org