Air Alert in Kyiv, Blasts Heard in Kharkiv and Sumy

An air alert was sounded in Kyiv on Friday over the threat of a drone attack, the capital's military administration said on its Telegram channel. It urged city residents to go to the nearest shelters. Meanwhile, explosions were heard in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, and in Sumy, Suspilne News reported, citing its correspondents. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The alerts followed a Ukrainian drone attack late Thursday in Russia's Belgorod region that killed a woman and injured three others, according to the region's operational headquarters. In the city of Grayvoron, a woman died when an FPV drone detonated, the headquarters said on Telegram. Three people were hospitalized: a man and a woman with multiple shrapnel wounds to the back, and another woman with shrapnel wounds to the scalp.

On the diplomatic front, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that a Ukrainian delegation is traveling for talks with US officials, with meetings expected in the coming days. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated Washington's desire to reach a negotiated settlement between Moscow and Kyiv, saying the Trump administration wants an agreement 'the sooner the better.' Zelensky also discussed further EU financial assistance and winter energy matters with European Council President Antonio Costa.

Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov claimed Thursday that threats made by Zelensky against Russia demonstrate Ukraine's 'unwillingness and unpreparedness' for a peaceful path. Peskov said Moscow supports a comprehensive and lasting peace in Ukraine. He also agreed with Rubio that there is currently no possibility for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, and he commented on an Indian three-point peace proposal, according to the report.

Separately, the Ukrainian General Staff confirmed on Thursday that it attacked an oil refinery in Siberia. The Omsk facility is one of Russia's most powerful oil refining enterprises and processes more than 21 million tons of oil per year, the General Staff said. The refinery was also attacked in July, when the army damaged its primary oil processing unit, which has a capacity of 8.4 million tons per year. The General Staff described damage to such facilities as Ukraine exercising its right to self-defense.