Russia launched a major overnight aerial assault on Ukraine, which President Zelensky said used more than 650 drones and over 30 missiles and struck roughly 13 regions. The strikes killed at least three people, including a 4-year-old in Zhytomyr, and forced emergency nationwide power cuts. The attack coincided with the return of Ukraine’s negotiating team from Miami, where a 20-point framework for talks was discussed; Zelensky says bilateral US security guarantees are close. Ukrainian forces withdrew from parts of Siversk amid heavy Russian pressure, and Kyiv placed its military on alert for possible Christmas strikes.
‘Massive’ Overnight Russian Airstrike Kills 4-Year-Old as Zelensky Reviews Miami Peace Talks
Emergency personnel assist an elderly woman who was inside an apartment building damaged by a Russian drone strike in Kyiv on Tuesday. - Thomas Peter/Reuters
Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults of the month on Ukraine overnight, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, killing at least three people and wounding at least 17. Kyiv’s leader received an in-person briefing from negotiators who had just returned from US-facilitated talks in Miami.
Scale of the Attack
Zelensky wrote on X that "Russia has been carrying out a massive attack on Ukraine," reporting that the strikes involved more than 650 drones and more than 30 missiles and struck roughly 13 regions — about half the country. Ukraine’s energy ministry said emergency power cuts were imposed nationwide, with some areas left almost entirely without electricity.
People take cover in a metro station being used as a bomb shelter during a Russian attack in Kyiv on Tuesday. - Dan Bashakov/AP
Civilian Toll
In the western Zhytomyr region, a Russian drone struck a residential building, killing a 4-year-old child, Zelensky said. Officials reported at least three fatalities countrywide and at least 17 injured. Emergency services and local authorities are responding to damage and coordinating restoration of power and essential services.
Frontline Developments: Siversk
On the eastern front, Ukrainian forces withdrew from parts of the town of Siversk to preserve personnel and maintain unit combat effectiveness amid sustained Russian offensive operations. The General Staff said the invaders advanced in some areas due to "significant numerical superiority and constant pressure," but added that Ukrainian troops continue to exercise "fire control" over parts of Siversk and that Russian units are being blocked in places.
Workers clear debris from the roof of a damaged residential building following a Russian drone strike in Kyiv on Tuesday. - Roman Pilipey/AFP/Getty Images
Diplomatic Context: Miami Talks And A 20-Point Framework
The bombardment came as Ukrainian and Russian officials wrapped a fresh round of separate US-facilitated meetings in Miami over the weekend. A US delegation led by White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, met separately with Russian and Ukrainian teams. Ukraine’s delegation returned to Kyiv with what Zelensky described as a "detailed report" and a 20-point document that forms the core of a proposed agreement framework.
Security Guarantees: Zelensky said the core plan includes multilateral security guarantees involving Ukraine, European partners and the United States, and that a separate bilateral document on US–Ukraine security assurances is "very close to a real outcome."
Responses And Next Steps
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov cautioned that the Miami meetings should not be viewed as a breakthrough, calling them "a working process" that requires meticulous expert-level work. US envoy Steve Witkoff said the talks with both sides were "constructive" and emphasized a continuing commitment to pursuing a just and sustainable peace.
Away from negotiations, Zelensky put Ukraine’s military on alert for potential Russian strikes around Christmas and highlighted the country’s shortage of air-defence systems. He said the timing of the assault "sends an extremely clear signal about Russia’s priorities," noting the attack struck while families prepare for the holidays and while talks aimed at ending the war were underway.
Reporting contributions were credited to multiple journalists. Ukrainian authorities continue to assess civilian casualties and damage, and diplomatic channels say technical work on security arrangements will continue in the coming days.
