On the night of December 5-6, Ukraine was the target of one of the largest combined missile and drone attacks since the beginning of the war. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, a nationwide missile alert was declared around 1:20 AM, followed at 6:30 AM by a new alert due to the entry into Ukrainian airspace of cruise missiles targeting the regions of Sumy, Chernihiv, Poltava, and Cherkasy. Sirens sounded almost everywhere, with the sole exception of Transcarpathia.

Kiev and the region under siege by drones and missiles

The capital, Kiev, and the surrounding region were among the hardest hit. Explosions were heard throughout the city and its suburbs, while the Ukrainian Air Force reported successive waves of kamikaze drones and missiles, including Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, followed by ballistic missiles.

The situation is particularly serious in Fastiv, a major railway hub southwest of Kyiv. A drone struck the main building of the train station, starting a fire that damaged the structure and rail depots. Regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk denounced a "massive bombardment of the railway infrastructure," resulting in forced rescheduling of passenger services and widespread disruptions. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack "militarily meaningless," noting that industrial facilities and private homes in the Kyiv region were also targeted.

In Kyiv Oblast, the aftermath of the attacks is visible in several settlements. In the village of Novi Petrivtsi, a warehouse caught fire due to debris from a downed drone, also affecting three trucks and damaging a residential building, while six others were hit. In the village of Nezhylovychi, Bucha District, a private home was completely destroyed by a fire sparked by the impact of the debris. The State Emergency Service reported multiple fires in warehouses and homes, with firefighters working for hours to contain the blazes.

Dnipro, Dnipropetrovsk and other cities under fire from Moscow

Russian attacks were not limited to the capital. Explosions were reported in Dnipro and the Dnipropetrovsk region, where authorities reported fires in multiple cities, with homes hit in Pavlohrad and infrastructure damaged in Kryvyi Rih, Zelensky's hometown. An 11-year-old boy was injured in Nikopol. Additional explosions were confirmed in Poltava, Lutsk, Odessa, Zaporizhia, and Bila Tserkva. In Lutsk, Mayor Ihor Polishchuk reported that several food warehouses caught fire due to drone strikes.

Western Ukraine targeted, drones spotted as far away as Lviv

In the early hours of the morning, Russian cruise missiles also reached western Ukraine, hitting the regions of Lviv, Ternopil, and Khmelnytskyi. Explosions and drone strikes were reported as far away as Lviv Oblast, traditionally considered one of the relatively safest areas of the country. In the Chernihiv region, further north, a nighttime drone attack hit residential buildings and critical infrastructure, causing fires and new power outages.

Widespread blackouts and energy infrastructure under attack

One of the main targets of the wave of attacks was once again Ukraine's energy system. Authorities report that generation, distribution, and transmission facilities in multiple regions were affected. At least six regions—Odessa, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Mykolaiv—were left without power in the early hours of the morning, resulting in disruptions to electricity and heating services and immediate impacts on the daily lives of millions of residents. In Odessa, a power plant was damaged by missiles and drones, causing problems with electricity and heating supplies.

The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant and the nuclear energy risk

News of the temporary interruption in power supplies to the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest nuclear facility, has caused particular alarm. For several hours, according to plant management, the plant had to rely on its internal backup generators, although it stated that its safety systems remained fully operational. The incident rekindles international fears about the risk of accidents in a critical area where energy infrastructure is regularly exposed to attacks and bombings.

Moscow's version: response to "terrorist attacks"

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed responsibility for the nighttime raid, describing it as a "massive attack" carried out with high-precision, long-range weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles and long-range drones. According to Moscow, the targets were enterprises of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex, the energy plants that support its operations, and port infrastructure used by the Kyiv Armed Forces. The attack is being presented as a response to Ukrainian "terrorist attacks" against civilian targets in Russia.

Zelensky: "Over 650 drones and 51 missiles against peaceful cities"

From the Ukrainian side, the narrative is completely different. Zelensky announced that in the last few hours, Russia has launched over 650 drones and 51 missiles, including aeroballistic and ballistic missiles, against various regions of the country. The president spoke of injuries in numerous areas, all of whom are being treated in their respective hospitals, and emphasized that the widespread use of drones and missiles on civilian and railway infrastructure demonstrates an intent to inflict suffering on the population. The attack on St. Nicholas Day, a deeply felt holiday in Ukraine, was interpreted by Zelensky as a symbolic act of brutality, "missiles launched against peaceful cities" to weaken Ukrainian morale.

Despite the intensity of the offensive, Ukrainian air defense forces are still claiming a significant share of interceptions. The night was punctuated by the blare of sirens and the detonations of anti-aircraft systems, as rescue teams moved through the rubble to put out fires, care for the injured, and document the damage to homes, factories, and infrastructure. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported at least eight injuries overall, with three in the Kyiv region alone, but the toll is still considered provisional.

Poland's response: fighter jets in flight, but no violations

The Russian attack had immediate repercussions on neighboring countries. Poland scrambled its fighter jets in preemptive mode, fearing that missiles or drones might stray into its airspace. The Polish Armed Forces Operations Command announced that it had activated air defense systems and ground-based radars in the areas near the border, specifying, however, that no violation of Polish airspace had been recorded. The measures, it was explained, are preventive in nature and aim to ensure maximum security along NATO's eastern flank.

Diplomacy in Florida: Talks between US and Ukrainian emissaries

On the diplomatic front, as missiles and drones continue to fall on Ukrainian cities, U.S. and Ukrainian officials met in Miami. Reportedly attended by Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, the talks involved Ukrainian National Defense and Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov and Chief of Staff Andriy Khnatov. According to a statement from the U.S. State Department, the United States and Ukraine agreed that real progress toward a peace agreement depends on Russia's willingness to demonstrate a serious commitment to a lasting peace, including concrete steps toward de-escalation and an end to the killings.

The Florida talks, described as "constructive," focused on a long-term security framework for Ukraine, the deterrent capabilities needed to sustain a stable peace, and the prospects for post-conflict reconstruction. The delegations also discussed joint economic initiatives between the United States and Ukraine, with the stated goal of laying the foundations for a democratic and prosperous future for the country. Umerov reiterated that Kyiv's priority remains an agreement that protects independence and national sovereignty, guarantees the security of citizens, and offers a solid platform for economic recovery.

Kallas and Meloni: The US remains Europe's main ally, but Europe must defend itself.

Responding to the latest signs of uncertainty from the US, EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Kaja Kallas reiterated that the United States remains the European Union's "greatest ally." This position was echoed, albeit with different nuances, by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who assured that there are no cracks in US-EU relations. This context also includes the US State Department's approval of the possible sale to Italy of long-range air-to-ground missiles and related equipment, worth an estimated $301 million, thus strengthening Italy's contribution to the Euro-Atlantic defense front.

Moscow, Lukoil and parallel diplomacy with India

On the Russian side, the international picture is enriched by other elements. Washington has announced the partial suspension of some sanctions against Lukoil, a major player in the Russian energy industry, while Vladimir Putin is busy visiting India to sign several trade agreements. From the subcontinent, the Russian leader continues to send messages to the West, reiterating its hard line on Kiev. The Kremlin has warned that Ukraine must withdraw from Donbass or Russia "will liberate those territories by force."

An all-out war: missiles, drones, energy and diplomacy

The night of yet another massive attack on Ukraine epitomizes, in just a few hours, the now all-encompassing nature of this conflict. Hypersonic missiles, kamikaze drones, planned or induced blackouts, nuclear power plants teetering on the edge, railway and industrial infrastructure affected, while in the background, complex diplomatic maneuvers unfold between Washington, Kiev, Moscow, Brussels, Warsaw, New Delhi, and European capitals. Ukraine enters day 1.382 of the war, counting casualties, damage, and regions in darkness, while its allies discuss security guarantees, reconstruction, and the future international order.