Amid stalled peace talks, the Kremlin has directed the deployment of nearly 140 kamikaze drones to launch assaults on Ukraine. The deadly drones were dispatched from six different directions to overwhelm Kyiv’s ground-to-air defenses in the northern and eastern regions.

Following unsuccessful negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States in Abu Dhabi, White House envoy Steve Witkoff described the talks as “constructive,” despite the Kremlin’s insistence on claiming the Donbas region of Ukraine. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Perskov, the territorial issue, part of the Anchorage formula, remains a key priority for Russia.

The Anchorage formula, reportedly agreed upon by President Donald Trump and Putin during their summit in Alaska, is at the core of the ongoing discussions. While negotiations are scheduled to resume on February 1, the Kremlin has reaffirmed its claim on the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, where intense fighting persists with numerous battles along the frontline.

Russian forces have intensified attacks on the Zaporizhzhia region, causing damage to civilian structures and igniting fires. Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia deployed various drones, including Shahed and Gerbera UAVs, some of which were decoys.

Sources indicate that Russia increasingly utilizes decoy drones to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense systems, aiming to deplete Kyiv’s ability to counter drone attacks. Ukrainian air defenses managed to intercept around 110 drones, but 21 drones struck civilian areas, resulting in disruptions to essential infrastructure and energy supply, making the winter of 2025-2026 challenging for residents facing energy blackouts.

Despite the setback in peace talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains optimistic, hinting at potential security guarantees from the United States. He highlighted the shared threat from Russia faced by Eastern European countries, emphasizing the importance of security assurances from the US in the region.