Russia and Ukraine exchanged new long-range strikes one day before U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi, with Kyiv reporting 317 Russian drones and Russian regional authorities confirming a drone strike and fire at the KINEF oil refinery.
Delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States are due to begin two days of talks on Nov. 10. The sides remain divided over the terms of a possible settlement while continuing attacks on energy infrastructure.
Ukraine Reports 317 Russian Drones
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 317 drones of various types overnight, including 105 jet-powered drones. The figures were provided by Ukrainian authorities and could not be independently verified.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces struck four electrical substations in the Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy and Vinnytsia regions. Moscow claimed the facilities were connected to Ukraine’s military-industrial sector. Kyiv did not confirm that characterization.
Fire at Major Russian Refinery
Leningrad regional Gov. Alexander Drozdenko confirmed that a drone struck the KINEF refinery in Kirishi and started a fire that was later contained. KINEF is one of Russia’s largest oil refineries.
Regional authorities also reported damage to heat-supply equipment in Kirishi, although heating and electricity generation were restored. Drozdenko said air defenses destroyed 113 drones over the region.
In Vsevolozhsk, drone debris hit an apartment building and killed a woman, according to regional officials. Damage to a power line temporarily left 114 transformer substations and five communities without electricity before service was restored.
Security Guarantees Expected on Talks Agenda
The Abu Dhabi meeting is expected to focus partly on security guarantees intended to prevent fighting from resuming after any agreement.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said Moscow and Kyiv are close to a deal but has not disclosed details. Previous negotiation rounds failed to stop the fighting, and the latest strikes underline the continuing differences between the sides.
Source: Vesti Baku, with battlefield and diplomatic claims attributed to the governments involved.