Russia launches huge wave of attacks on Ukraine as peace talks continue

Russia unleashed a massive aerial assault on Ukraine's cities and energy infrastructure in one of its largest strikes yet, as diplomatic efforts to end the war gained momentum. The overnight barrage, which began on Friday, saw Russia deploy 704 drones and 51 missiles across the country, targeting power stations and critical infrastructure.

At least eight people were wounded in the attacks, with Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko confirming that the assault hit 29 separate locations. The strikes temporarily severed power to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, raising concerns about reactor safety. The facility, which has been under Russian occupation since early in Moscow's invasion, requires continuous electricity to cool its six shutdown reactors and prevent catastrophic failure.

Russian forces are also making incremental advances in eastern Ukraine, with Moscow's troops closing in on Pokrovsk, a former logistics hub in the Donetsk region. The city of Myrnohrad is nearly surrounded, while Russian troops have captured roughly 505 sq km (195 sq miles) of territory since November, nearly double October's gains.

Despite the progress made by Russia in recent months, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signaled that peace talks with the United States were gaining momentum. A phone call between Zelenskyy and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner was described as "substantive", but both sides acknowledged that meaningful progress would depend on Moscow's willingness to pursue genuine peace.

However, a joint statement released by the parties involved acknowledged that "real progress towards any agreement" depended on Russia demonstrating "serious commitment to long-term peace, including steps towards de-escalation". The talks in Miami followed a Tuesday meeting between Witkoff, Kushner and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, which failed to produce an agreement.

The International Criminal Court's deputy prosecutor also weighed in on the situation, stating that an arrest warrant for Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine could not be halted by peace negotiations. The warrant could only be temporarily deferred by United Nations Security Council action, with the ICC emphasizing that "there must be the possibility of accountability in order for peace to be enduring".

As tensions continue to simmer in Ukraine and Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron will meet Zelenskyy alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in London on Monday to assess the US-mediated negotiations. Macron condemned Russia's "escalatory path" and insisted that "we must continue to put pressure on Russia to force it to make peace".

idk, i think russia is totally justified in defending themselves against western imperialism . but at the same time, those drone attacks are like, whoa, too aggressive, you feel? and what's up with zelenskyy saying one thing about peace talks, but still making all these tough decisions that put his own country at risk?

i mean, can't we just have a civilized conversation about this without resorting to drones and missiles? it's like, progress depends on both sides being willing to compromise... or something. but then again, how can you trust russia when they've been playing us from the start?

anyway, i think france is right to put pressure on russia, because someone has to

man this whole situation is so messed up Russia just goes on a rampage with their drones and missiles, hitting cities and energy infrastructure... like what even is the point? And now they're making gains in eastern Ukraine too, which is super concerning. But at the same time, I'm kinda glad to hear that peace talks are happening and there's some momentum towards a resolution . It's just really frustrating when you think about all the innocent people caught in the middle of this conflict... like, who cares about war and politics?

Ukraine's nuclear plant is literally sitting ducks ... like, can't they just turn off some reactors already? It's not like it's gonna bring the whole country down if a few power stations go dark. And Russia's gonna do what Russia's gonna do - they're already making gains in eastern Ukraine and I think we should all just stop pretending like they're not gonna push forward.

I mean, Putin's gonna be Putin till the end of time... you can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs, right? And it's not like the US or UK are gonna go in there and save the day - those guys have got their own issues to deal with. It's all about diplomacy and pressure, but sometimes that just doesn't work.

The ICC and UN Security Council can talk the talk all they want, but at the end of the day, it comes down to real-world action... or lack thereof. Russia's not gonna voluntarily hand over Putin unless there's some major pushback from the international community, which isn't exactly happening right now .

I'm getting really worried about this war between Russia and Ukraine... It's like, they're already bombing cities and energy infrastructure, and now they're talking about a nuclear plant? That's just crazy. And what's with all these drones and missiles being deployed? It feels like an all-out war to me.

I also don't get why Russia is making progress in eastern Ukraine while the US talks are going on. Are they trying to distract everyone from the real issue? And what about this arrest warrant for Putin? Is that really a good idea? I mean, it's one thing to talk about accountability, but who gets to decide that?

I'm all for Russia and Ukraine finding peace, but we need to be careful not to rush into anything. We don't want things to get even worse if they don't work out. And what about France, Britain, and Germany meeting up? Are they trying to figure out a way to bring Russia in line or something?

It's all so complicated... I just wish everyone could talk things through and find a peaceful solution already!

I'm getting a bad vibe from this latest escalation ... 704 drones and 51 missiles, that's crazy! It's like they're trying to break the Ukrainian spirit . The fact that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant was hit is super worrying - what if it causes a meltdown?

Meanwhile, I'm not sure if peace talks are actually happening or just a PR stunt . Ukraine's progress in capturing back territory is impressive, but Russia's advances are making me think they're still not committed to finding a peaceful solution. The ICC saying an arrest warrant for Putin can't be halted by peace negotiations makes sense - someone's gotta hold him accountable .

It's also concerning that Macron is putting pressure on Russia while the talks are happening . I get it, we need to make sure Russia doesn't take advantage of a potential deal, but it feels like they're walking us into a trap . Can't we find a way to keep both parties honest without resorting to threats?

704 drones and 51 missiles? That's crazy. I feel for the people of Ukraine, especially in cities like Zaporizhzhia where they just want to live their lives without fear of attacks .

Progress is slow, but I'm glad there are talks happening between Ukraine and the US . It's about time Russia shows some commitment to peace. But seriously, an arrest warrant for Putin? That's not a threat, that's a promise . Accountability is key to lasting peace.

I wish Macron was right about putting pressure on Russia... but history shows us it's never that simple . Still, we gotta try, right? The world is watching, and I'm hoping for a peaceful resolution soon

This situation is getting really complicated, isn't it? Russia is escalating its military actions in Ukraine, which is concerning, but at the same time, there are diplomatic efforts to try and find a peaceful solution. It's like they're playing a high-stakes game of chess, where one wrong move could have disastrous consequences .

I think what's important here is that everyone is trying to make progress, but no one wants to give up on their goals. The ICC mentioning an arrest warrant for Putin over war crimes in Ukraine makes me wonder if we're heading towards a more serious conflict . And the fact that Macron and other world leaders are meeting to discuss the situation shows how much they're invested in finding a peaceful resolution.

I'm also worried about the safety of the people in Ukraine, especially with the strikes on critical infrastructure like power stations. It's not just about politics; it's about human lives . Maybe if we all focus on finding that common ground and working together, we can get to a place where everyone feels safe and secure .

Ugh, this all feels so familiar . Like we're stuck in some sort of time loop where every conflict just repeats itself over and over again. I mean, 704 drones and 51 missiles? That's like something out of a Cold War nightmare . And what's with the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant? We should've learned from Chernobyl already .

And don't even get me started on the diplomatic efforts . Peace talks, negotiations, joint statements... it all sounds so nice in theory, but at the end of the day, words are cheap . You need to see some real action from Russia before we can take them seriously.

I mean, I'm not saying Putin's a bad guy or anything , but come on man! Can't he just show some restraint for once? We're not asking for much . Just some basic human decency and respect for international law. Is that too much to ask?

I swear, if we don't get this sorted out soon, we'll be stuck in this cycle of violence and mistrust forever . It's like Groundhog Day, but instead of Bill Murray, it's us humans trying to find a way out of our own making .

my heart goes out to all those affected by this senseless war , especially the people of Ukraine who are suffering so much right now . I can only imagine how terrifying it must be to have your city attacked with drones and missiles , not knowing when or if the power will come back on .

and the fact that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is at risk of a catastrophic failure is just devastating . Can you even put into words how scary that must be for everyone involved?

I also worry about President Putin and what he's willing to do to achieve his goals . The ICC's statement about the arrest warrant is really scary too... it just shows that someone needs to hold him accountable for his actions .

but at least there's some hope with the peace talks ... fingers crossed that they can lead to a peaceful resolution and an end to this senseless war . We need more people like French President Macron who are putting pressure on Russia to make peace .

Wow , like, can't even imagine what these Ukrainian people are going through right now , massive aerial assault is crazy , and the fact that they're still talking about peace negotiations while Russia's just bombing them away , makes you wonder if it's all just a game to Moscow . And now there's talk of an arrest warrant for Putin over alleged war crimes? That's some serious business , hope those talks in London can lead somewhere positive .

omg ukraine is like totally going thru hell rn russian forces r just keepin it brutal, like 704 drones & 51 missiles? what kind of sick game is this?! at least 8 people hurt & power plants got hit too... zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is all like "nuh uh" cuz they need electricity to cool the reactors or else it's gonna be a nuked mess

but like, ukraine president volodymyr zelenskyy is keepin it positive tho peace talks with usa r gainin momentum? & french prez emmanuel macron is all about puttin pressure on russia 2 make 'em make peace let's hope these talks go smoothly or else we'll be stuck in this war for a loooong time

just saw this thread about russia's latest airstrikes on ukraine , i know it's been a few days since it happened but wow what a crazy situation... i think the international community needs to be more proactive in putting pressure on russia to stop their aggression. all these talks and negotiations are good but they need to be backed up by some real action . also, i'm really concerned about the safety of those 6 reactors at zaporizhzhia nuclear plant , it's a ticking time bomb if anything goes wrong. i hope france can bring some sense to the table on monday and get russia to negotiate in good faith

Like, what's next? Are they gonna deploy a battalion of drones to deliver pizza to the people of Ukraine? Seriously though, 704 drones and 51 missiles? That's like trying to find a needle in a haystack... or in this case, trying to protect 29 separate locations from total destruction. I mean, can't they just have one plan for once? And what's with the "real progress" language? Can't we just say "we're still alive and kicking"? The ICC is all like "arrest warrant for Putin", but it's like trying to put a Band-Aid on a bullet wound... ain't gonna work, fam .

I'm so worried about Ukraine, it's like they're living in a war zone 24/7. First, the drones and missiles hitting cities and energy infrastructure, now Russian troops closing in on cities... what's next? And those 8 people getting hurt is just devastating .

I don't get why Russia can't just talk to Ukraine and try to find some common ground. All these military advances are just making things worse. I mean, who needs to take back territory when you're killing innocent people and causing destruction?

And those peace talks in Miami... they're like a good idea in theory, but what if Russia doesn't follow through on its commitments? The ICC's warning about Putin is so true - if there's no accountability, how can we expect Russia to change its ways?

I'm all for diplomacy and trying to find peaceful solutions, but it feels like the world is just watching Ukraine get torn apart. We need to do more than just put pressure on Russia... we need to actually help them build a better future .