Key Points:
- At least 25 injured in overnight Russian strikes across Ukraine
- Kyiv seeks progress toward leaders-level talks
- Territorial disputes remain the main obstacle to peace
ISLAMABAD: Russia launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities overnight, injuring at least 25 people on Thursday, hours before senior US and Ukrainian officials were due to meet in Geneva to discuss efforts to end the war now in its fifth year.
At least 16 people were wounded in the northeastern city of Kharkiv and nearby areas, according to the Ukrainian emergency services. In the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia, seven people were injured, and dozens of residential buildings were damaged. Two more people were reported hurt in the central city of Kryvyi Rih.
In the capital Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that a nine-storey residential building was damaged in the Darnytskyi district. Fires also broke out in a home and several garages. Air defence systems were activated during the assault, according to city officials. No casualties were reported in the capital.
Ukraine has faced frequent missile and drone barrages in recent months, with Russia targeting urban areas and energy infrastructure during winter. The conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, remains Europe’s deadliest war since World War II.
The latest strikes came ahead of a scheduled meeting in Geneva between Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The talks are intended to prepare for a broader round of negotiations expected in early March involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he spoke with US President Donald Trump ahead of the Geneva meeting to coordinate positions.
Zelenskyy expressed hope that progress in Switzerland could pave the way for direct talks between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump has said he wants to end the war quickly, though negotiations have so far produced no breakthrough. Zelenskyy has argued that any agreement must include firm security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression. Ukraine’s constitution bars the government from formally giving up territory.
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Russia continues to press for full control of the eastern Donetsk region, part of the industrial Donbas area that has seen some of the fiercest fighting. Moscow has signalled it may attempt to secure the region by force if negotiations fail.
Separately, Russian officials said the two sides exchanged the bodies of fallen soldiers, with Russia transferring the remains of 1,000 Ukrainian troops in return for those of 35 Russian servicemen. Exchanges of war dead have taken place periodically during the conflict, but have not led to progress toward peace.
Diplomatic efforts remain fragile as fighting continues on the ground, underscoring the gap between battlefield realities and negotiations aimed at ending the war.
