Russia and Ukraine exchanged intense aerial assaults overnight Saturday, with each reporting over 100 enemy drones breaching their airspace. The barrage unfolded less than a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin met U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss a proposed 30-day ceasefire, underscoring the fragile state of negotiations in the over three-year conflict.

In Russia, Volgograd Governor Andrei Bocharov confirmed drone debris ignited a fire in the Krasnoarmeysky district near a Lukoil oil refinery, a frequent target since Ukraine’s strikes began, including one on February 15.

No casualties were reported, though nearby airports briefly suspended flights, per local media. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it downed 126 Ukrainian drones, with 64 intercepted over Volgograd and others in Voronezh, Belgorod, Bryansk, Rostov, and Kursk regions.

Ukraine’s air force reported Russia launched 178 drones, blending Shahed attack drones with decoys to overwhelm defenses. Ukrainian forces neutralized 130, while 38 veered off course. The strikes highlight ongoing military pressure as both sides test resolve amid the U.S.-backed ceasefire talks, which Ukraine accepted on March 11 in Saudi Arabia, pending Russia’s approval.

The timing—hours after Putin’s dialogue with Witkoff—suggests neither side is easing up, despite diplomatic overtures. Kyiv has pushed for the truce to include air and ground silence, while Moscow’s response remains pending. As debris falls and drones swarm, the path to peace remains overshadowed by unrelenting hostilities.