Ukrainian drone strike kills 4 in Volgograd; Russia reports downing 1,198 drones

Four people were killed and two injured when Ukrainian drones struck an industrial zone in Volgograd, Russia, on Friday, marking the deadliest attack on the city to date, according to regional governor Andrei Bocharov. The victims were working in the zone, which houses an oil refinery and a chemical factory. Russia's defence ministry said air defences intercepted 1,198 Ukrainian drones overnight across more than 15 regions, among the largest swarms launched by Kyiv. Ukrainian authorities reported Russian strikes that killed at least three people, including a 17-year-old in Zaporizhzhia, and damaged a hospital in Kyiv and a kindergarten in Rivne. The attacks followed US-led diplomatic talks in Moscow and Dublin aimed at ending the war, now nearing its fifth year. Ukraine has escalated strikes on Russian refineries since late October, with industry sources saying attacks have temporarily cut Russia's refining capacity by about 30 percent.