Russian missiles strike Kyiv before planned talks in Abu Dhabi

Russian forces launched missile strikes on Kyiv early on Saturday, targeting energy infrastructure and hitting residential areas. France 24 reported that at least five people were injured in the overnight attacks, while Al Jazeera reported that Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed civilian casualties after debris damaged a residential building. Klitschko stated on Telegram that Russian forces struck infrastructure in the Kyiv suburbs with ballistic missiles. The strikes followed a warning from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his nightly video address that Russia was preparing new attacks on energy targets, bridges, and other infrastructure, according to Al Jazeera. [1][3]

The overnight strikes occurred as Ukraine prepared for upcoming diplomatic negotiations. France 24 reported that negotiators from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States are scheduled to meet on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, for a fourth round of trilateral talks aimed at ending the war. [1]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Russian attacks have repeatedly hit Ukrainian energy infrastructure ahead of diplomatic meetings. Russia has carried out waves of missile and drone strikes against civilian power infrastructure throughout its invasion of Ukraine, leaving the country with only a third of its pre-war electricity generating capacity by mid-2024. [13][15][16]

The strikes also come amid reports of slowing Russian military progress on the ground. According to Al Jazeera, figures from the Institute for the Study of War showed that Russian territorial gains in Ukraine fell to 117.38 square kilometres in the first ten months of 2026, compared to 5,304 square kilometres seized in 2025. [4]