KYIV, Feb 12: Russia launched a heavy overnight assault on Ukrainian cities, firing 219 long-range drones, 24 ballistic missiles, and a guided aircraft missile, targeting Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Odesa, officials reported Thursday.
The strikes damaged residential buildings, critical infrastructure, and power grids, leaving thousands without heating amid cold temperatures.
In Dnipro, four people, including a 4-year-old girl and a newborn, were injured, while Kyiv and Odesa also saw injuries and structural damage.
The attacks coincided with uncertainty over another round of US-brokered peace talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine would attend negotiations proposed by Washington in Miami or Abu Dhabi next week, but said Russia was “hesitating.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated talks were expected “soon” but gave no specifics.
The US has set a June deadline for a deal, but key issues—including control of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, especially in the Donbas region, and Moscow’s demands for Kyiv to cede more land—remain unresolved.
Ukraine seeks Western-backed security guarantees, a timeline for EU membership, and a postwar reconstruction plan before agreeing to a proposed 20-point settlement.
Russia has continued to target civilian areas, and has not responded to a US proposal for an “energy ceasefire,” which would halt Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil facilities.
The ongoing attacks highlight both the humanitarian toll and the diplomatic stalemate as the conflict nears its fourth anniversary, with Ukrainian cities under relentless bombardment while hopes for a negotiated settlement remain uncertain.(AP)
