Abu dhabi: Ukraine reported that at least one person was killed and 31 others were injured due to Russian airstrikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv, amid ongoing trilateral peace negotiations in the United Arab Emirates. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated on Telegram that fires erupted in various city districts following the overnight attack, affecting heat and water supplies.

According to Anadolu Agency, Kyiv’s Mayor Klitschko confirmed that one person died and four were injured, with three hospitalized. In Kharkiv, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported severe damage in the city’s Industrialnyi and Nemyshlianskyi districts from an attack involving 25 Russian drones. Initially, seven injuries were reported, but Governor Oleh Synyehubov later updated the figure to 27. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba highlighted that over 1.2 million people in Kyiv and Chernihiv are without electricity, with an energy facility in Nizhyn being attacked.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the social media platform X, emphasized the importance of air defense support from international partners, referencing agreements made with US President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Ukraine’s Air Force claimed to have intercepted 357 out of 375 drones and 15 of 21 missiles launched by Russia.

The Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged a mass strike targeting drone production and energy facilities, claiming success in hitting all designated targets. These developments occurred as Russia, Ukraine, and the US concluded the first day of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi. Rustem Umerov, leading Ukraine’s delegation, mentioned that discussions aim for a dignified and lasting peace. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted progress in talks, referencing the ‘Anchorage formula’ from a prior meeting between Trump and Putin.