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London — As European nations criticize Russia for an apparent lack of commitment to ending the war in Ukraine, Moscow has dramatically intensified its large-scale aerial assaults on Ukrainian cities. This surge in attacks has resulted in multiple civilian injuries and widespread disruptions to essential services, underscoring the precarious security situation amidst fragile diplomatic efforts.

Over the past night, Russian forces reportedly launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 138 drones across various Ukrainian regions, according to Reuters and the Kyiv Post. The strikes caused significant damage and massive power outages in several key areas.

Civilian Infrastructure and Energy Grid Targeted

The southern port city of Odesa bore the brunt of a pre-dawn drone attack. The assault struck the local administration building, high-rise apartments, and vehicles, injuring several civilians. Oleh Kiper, the regional governor, confirmed that six people, including two rescued from an apartment, were injured, and 33 others, including six children, received psychological support. The city's energy infrastructure was also hit, cutting power to 51,800 households, as reported by the Ukrainian energy company DTEK.

In Kherson, a frontline city, successive Russian strikes halted the operation of a heating power station, leaving 40,500 households without winter heating. Governor Oleksandr Prokudin condemned the attack on Telegram, stating, "A 100% civilian facility that provides heating to our citizens has been seriously damaged... Once again, terrorists are waging war against civilians."

Further reports indicated strikes elsewhere:

Kryvyi Rih (Dnipropetrovsk region): A Russian missile attack damaged several high-rise buildings, about 20 private homes, a school, and shops, according to Mayor Oleksandr Vilkul.
Kharkiv region: Missile and drone attacks ignited fires in residential buildings, recreational facilities, and warehouses, injuring a 62-year-old woman.
Eastern Front: Ukraine's Energy Ministry reported that 60,000 households in the frontline Donetsk region and 1,600 in the Dnipropetrovsk region were without power as of Tuesday morning.
Diplomatic Impasse and Mutual Recriminations
The escalation in attacks coincides with the latest round of mediation efforts led by the US administration of Donald Trump, which has engaged in separate consultations with Moscow and Kyiv. A US delegation visited Russia on December 2, followed by a visit from a Ukrainian delegation to the US on December 4 to discuss a peace plan.

However, the December 2 talks between the US and Russia failed to bridge fundamental disagreements, particularly regarding the issue of territorial concessions by Ukraine. European officials have publicly criticized Russia for showing no genuine intention to end the conflict.

Andriy Sybiha, Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister, issued a strong rebuke to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to "stop wasting the world's time." Sybiha insisted, "Russia must end the bloodshed it started," warning that failure to do so would be "spitting in the face of the whole world again and there must be consequences."

In contrast, Russia claims that its recent military successes on the battlefield have strengthened its negotiating position. Yury Ushakov, a Kremlin foreign policy aide, noted that "the progress and nature of the negotiations were influenced by the successes of the Russian army on the battlefield in recent weeks."

President Donald Trump, speaking at the White House, characterized the December 2 meeting with Russia as "quite good" but cautioned, "I can't tell you what the results are coming out of the meeting, because it takes two to tango." The increased Russian aggression and the diplomatic standstill suggest that despite international efforts, a resolution remains elusive, with the war continuing to exact a heavy toll on Ukraine's infrastructure and civilian population.