When the clock struck midnight in Ukraine, the sky wasn't just dark, it was alive with terror. More than 600 drones and 30 missiles, courtesy of Russia, rained havoc across the nation. The chaos wasn't limited to the skies, though. On the ground, the real tragedy unfolded. Three lives were lost in the blink of an eye, including the innocent soul of a four-year-old child in Zhytomyr. A nightmare.

The attacks came just days after US-led discussions aimed at ending nearly four years of relentless war. But instead of peace, Ukraine found itself plunged into widespread blackouts. Energy facilities, especially in the western regions, took the brunt of the damage. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed the grim reality. The heart of Ukraine was under siege.

Poland, ever watchful as a NATO member, didn't sit idly by. Jets were scrambled, ready to defend their airspace after strikes landed perilously close to its border. The tension was palpable, the stakes sky-high.

President Volodymyr Zelensky didn’t mince words. On social media, he lambasted Russian President Vladimir Putin for his blatant disregard for peace. "Putin still cannot accept that he must stop killing," he declared, urging the world to tighten the screws on Russia.

The human toll was staggering. Besides the child in Zhytomyr, another individual perished in Khmelnytskyi and a third near Kyiv. Five more were wounded near the capital, their fates uncertain. It was a somber day for Ukraine.

Russia's defense ministry claimed attacks on Ukrainian energy and military sites, boasting of capturing two villages along the front line. Kyiv, however, often contests such proclamations. Truth, in this war, is a slippery thing.

Russia has amped up its assault on Ukraine's infrastructure, trying to twist Kyiv's arm into a US-backed peace deal. Meanwhile, Ukraine isn't sitting back. It has targeted Russia's energy exports, turning the tables when it can.

Not to be outdone, Ukraine executed an overnight drone strike, igniting a fire at an industrial site in Russia's Stavropol region. There was also a fire at a fuel oil pipeline in Taman, Krasnodar, but authorities quickly extinguished it.

Ukraine's air force reported a staggering defense—635 drones and 38 missiles launched by Russia, most shot down. Still, the damage was done. Power outages were rampant, leaving nearly all consumers in Rivne, Ternopil, and Khmelnytskyi in the dark.

Chernihiv, Lviv, and Odesa saw critical infrastructure hit hard. Even private energy companies weren't spared. DTEK, a thermal power plant company, reported significant damage.

Meanwhile, peace talks continued in Miami. US officials, Ukrainian and European delegations, and separate Russian contacts, all trying to find common ground. But Russia's demands are steep—cede the eastern Donbas and slash military capabilities. For Zelensky, that's a pill too bitter to swallow.