Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults of the war, pounding Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine with hundreds of drones and missiles just days before President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s high-stakes meeting with US President Donald Trump, while the Kremlin released footage of President Vladimir Putin in military uniform, warning Kyiv that Moscow is prepared to press its goals by force.
What did Ukraine accuse Russia of?
Ukraine said Russia fired around 500 drones and 40 missiles in a coordinated overnight attack on Saturday (December 27, 2025) that triggered nearly 10 hours of air raid alerts in the capital, killing at least two people and wounding more than 40 others, including children.
The strikes knocked out electricity and heating across large swathes of Kyiv as temperatures hovered near freezing, underscoring the humanitarian toll as diplomatic efforts intensify.
What did Zelenskyy say about the Russian strikes?
Zelenskyy described the barrage as Moscow’s response to US-brokered peace talks, ahead of his scheduled meeting with Trump in Florida on Sunday (December 27, 2025).
“Today, Russia demonstrated how it responds to peaceful negotiations between Ukraine and the United States,” he said, stressing that security guarantees and territorial arrangements would dominate the talks aimed at ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two, sparked by Russia’s 2022 invasion.
Where did Russia send its drones to strike Ukraine?
Ukraine’s air force said drones targeted Kyiv as well as northeastern and southern regions. State grid operator Ukrenergo confirmed energy facilities were hit nationwide, forcing emergency power cuts.
DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, said more than one million households lost power in and around Kyiv, with hundreds of thousands still disconnected by afternoon. Officials said over 40% of residential buildings in the capital were left without heat.
How did Russia’s drone strike coincide with Zelenskyy’s diplomatic engagements?
As Ukraine endured the strikes, Russia said its air defences shot down eight drones headed for Moscow. The escalation came as Zelenskyy made a stop in Canada en route to the US, where Prime Minister Mark Carney announced 2.5 billion Canadian dollars in additional economic aid and said peace “requires a willing Russia.”
European leaders also weighed in. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said all efforts toward a “just and lasting peace” must preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty and strengthen its defence capabilities.
What is the fate of Russia-Ukraine territorial claims?
Diplomacy remains fraught. Territory and the fate of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant are major stumbling blocks. Zelenskyy said a 20-point US-backed draft peace framework is about 90% complete, but security guarantees are crucial. He has indicated Kyiv wants long-term, legally binding assurances, while the US has reportedly floated a 15-year renewable deal.
Trump said Washington is driving the process and expressed confidence ahead of the meeting, adding he expects to speak with Putin soon. Moscow, however, is demanding Ukraine withdraw from parts of the eastern Donetsk region it has not fully captured, while Kyiv wants a ceasefire along the current front lines.
How did Putin get into military fatigues to warn Ukraine?
Amid the diplomacy, the Kremlin released footage of Putin wearing military fatigues, delivering a stark warning to Kyiv authorities. “If they are not willing to end the matter peacefully, we will achieve all the goals of the special military operation by military means,” he said.
With fighting grinding on across drone-saturated front lines and civilian infrastructure under sustained attack, Saturday’s (December 27) strikes highlighted the sharp contrast between diplomatic momentum and battlefield realities as Zelenskyy and Trump prepare for talks that could shape the war’s next phase.