Heavy drone strikes and missile attacks continue as US mediators seek ceasefire

Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war, Russia and Ukraine reported significant overnight attacks on Friday, highlighting the persistence of hostilities. Russian authorities stated that approximately 1,200 Ukrainian drones were launched against the country, targeting critical energy infrastructure. In response, Ukrainian officials reported that strikes on the port city of Odesa were still active and that a hospital in the capital had been hit.

The Russian Ministry of Defence announced that it intercepted 1,198 of these drones across more than 15 regions. Regional Governor Andrei Bocharov confirmed that four people were killed and two others injured in Volgograd, where an industrial area was struck. While unverified social media footage suggested a major local oil refinery was on fire, officials had not yet confirmed the specific target.

Ukraine has focused its offensive this year on Russian oil facilities to reduce the revenue generated by energy exports that fund the invasion. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that 467 drones reached the capital overnight. Meanwhile, Russian forces attacked Odesa from early Friday morning, with the city’s military administration confirming at least two fatalities.

In the Black Sea, the Russian Defence Ministry said it targeted a cargo ship carrying weapons and military equipment for Ukrainian forces. In southeastern Ukraine, emergency services reported six injuries in the Zaporizhia district following Russian attacks. A hospital in Kyiv caught fire after being struck by a drone around 3:00 a.m. local time, leaving one person injured and causing severe damage to the building.

Al Jazeera correspondent Audrey Macalpine reported from the scene, noting that the facility treats civilians and is located near the city center. She observed that many residents were forced to evacuate their homes due to the intensity of the strikes. The attacks occur as US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff intensify their mediation work.

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday, reaching an agreement on a major prisoner exchange but making limited progress on ending the war. Key obstacles remain, including disputes over territory and security guarantees. Russia is reported to have maintained uncompromising demands, such as control over the entire Donbas region and changes to wider European security arrangements, including calls for Finland to leave NATO.

The US diplomats met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday and then briefed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Dublin. Later on Thursday, Kushner stated that Putin had agreed to include European nations in the negotiations, emphasizing that the deal could not be concluded without them at the table.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen supported this move in Dublin, stating that Europe’s inclusion safeguards its interests and supports Ukraine. However, European leaders are still working to coordinate their approach, with disagreements persisting over who should lead the negotiations. A summit in Dublin on Friday is focused on resolving these internal issues before talks resume next week.

Ukrainian officials in Kyiv expressed concern that Russia might be using the inclusion of Europe as a tactic to distract from its refusal to give up occupied territory. Despite this, Moscow stated on Friday afternoon that it had not yet formally agreed to include European mediators. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a decision on an expanded format would be made once Russia understood Europe’s real intentions and willingness to contribute to the peace process.