Russia and Ukraine engaged in reciprocal airstrikes overnight Thursday as discussions were set to recommence in Brussels regarding Ukraine's post-war reconstruction and security guarantees. These talks follow nearly five years after Russia's full-scale invasion.
The scale of the rebuilding effort was highlighted by the latest Russian aerial barrage and the ongoing search for individuals missing in rubble from a deadly airstrike in southern Ukraine on Monday.
Ukraine responded by launching hundreds of drones targeting Russian positions. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that its forces intercepted nearly 500 drones overnight.
Rescue teams continued their efforts to locate over 30 people believed to be trapped in the wreckage of a former school and a nearby shelter hit by Russian guided bombs on Monday in Komyshuvakha, Zaporizhzhia region. The strike, which occurred as residents awaited humanitarian aid, was described as one of the deadliest in recent memory. Ukraine's national police force confirmed that 42 bodies have been recovered, with ongoing efforts to identify some through DNA samples from relatives.
Ukraine's lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, stated that the two-day talks in Brussels, held at NATO headquarters, would focus on post-war reconstruction, funding for 2027, and security guarantees supported by Ukraine's Western allies. Officials from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, the European Union, and NATO were participating, alongside representatives from the World Bank and the U.S. investment group BlackRock. Umerov noted separate discussions on countering threats posed by Russia to Ukraine and Europe.
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart indicated that participants would convene again "to discuss the way forward on bringing about a just and sustainable end to the war in Ukraine." These meetings precede negotiations scheduled in Abu Dhabi between representatives from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, aimed at ending the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported a 90-minute conversation with U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, emphasizing the need for negotiations to advance swiftly to end the war. He stated that Ukraine is prepared to take necessary steps and has presented clear proposals to the U.S. Kushner commented on X that the talks focus not only on ending the war but also on establishing a broader security architecture to prevent future conflicts.
Ukrainian air defenses reported downing or suppressing 105 out of 128 Russian attack drones overnight into Thursday. However, Russian strikes wounded four people in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk and Kyiv regions. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, drones hit six areas, injuring three people in Dnipro and damaging infrastructure, homes, and garages. An attack on logistics infrastructure west of Kyiv caused a fire and injured one man, according to the State Emergency Service.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed its forces intercepted 496 Ukrainian drones over 13 Russian regions, the Crimean Peninsula, and the Black and Azov Seas. More than 200 drones reportedly targeted Russia’s Ryazan region, causing power line damage and a fire at an industrial site. Reports indicated a blaze at the Ryazan oil refinery, with images circulating of smoke plumes. A warehouse belonging to the Russian retail company Wildberries was also reportedly damaged.