The European Union has reached out to Moscow in a tentative bid to open a line of communication so the continent is not sidelined in any potential talks to end Russia’s grinding war in Ukraine, officials said Thursday.

The news emerged as Ukraine launched one of its biggest drone attacks since Russia’s all-out invasion of its neighbor more than four years ago, Russian officials said Thursday. A major Moscow oil refinery was hit for a second time in a week and commercial flights at Moscow airports were disrupted.

Against the backdrop of conflict, the EU has been quietly seeking to reopen communications with Moscow even as it doubles down on its support for Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, has tried to cut out Europe and Kyiv and negotiate Ukraine’s future with Washington.

Britain will provide 150,000 drones to ​Ukraine by the end ‌of 2026 as part of a £752m ​funding package, defence ​minister Dan Jarvis said on ⁠Thursday at a ​meeting of the Ukraine ​Defence Contact Group in Brussels.

The package, funded by Britain’s £2.26bn loan to ​Ukraine, includes 350 air defence missiles ‌and ⁠ground-based radar systems.

The transport workshop of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear ⁠plant in eastern Ukraine came under a massive ⁠overnight drone ​attack, ​with at least ⁠14 ‌strikes recorded, the Russian-installed management said this morning.

A fire ‌broke out in one ⁠section and buildings were damaged, but no casualties were reported, the management said, adding that damage ‌could not ​yet be ‌fully ⁠assessed due ⁠to ongoing threat ‌of further ​attacks.

A Russian drone strike has killed a crew member of a Panama-flagged ship in the Black Sea waters, claimed the Ukrainian deputy prime minister.

Oleksiy Kuleba said that another vessel under the Saint Kitts and Nevis flag was ‌also hit ​and ‌its three crew ⁠members were ⁠lightly injured.

Russia appears to have launched coordinated strikes targeted multiple cities in Ukraine after vowing to retaliate for Ukraine’s drone attack on Moscow.

Ukraine has developed a new maritime drone equipped with electronic warfare capabilities and missiles to target Russian aircraft, according to local reports.

The SIRENA unmanned trimaran, designed for high-risk missions, debuted at the Eurosatory defence exhibition in Paris, where it was showcased as a purpose-built platform for electronic warfare operations in confined maritime environments.

The drone has an integrated multi-band jamming system that operates across a wide frequency range from 300 to 6000 MHz, which allows it to simultaneously block enemy communications, navigation signals, and control channels of other unmanned aerial vehicles.

Four children were among the nine injured in Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv with bombs.

Mayor Ihor Terekhov said the city was targeted by guided aerial bombs in the early hours of the morning.

The US State Department has issued a security alert for its citizens in Russia following Ukraine’s massive drone attack on Moscow.

It advised American citizens to move away immediately in the event of a drone sighting and seek cover if necessary.

“In an emergency, you should follow instructions from local Russian authorities and seek shelter,” the alert said.

It also warned citizens against touching or photographing drones and debris of other unmanned vehicles.“

Russian law prohibits sharing or publishing photos or videos depicting the aftermath of drone attacks, including images of UAVs or UAV parts,” the alert said. “Violating this law may result in a fine or imprisonment.”

Ukraine’s allies have ‌announced contributions to Nato’s Prioritised ​Ukraine Requirements ​List programme for $1bn ⁠at a ​meeting of the ​Ukraine Defence Contact Group, known as ​the Ramstein ​group, defence minister ‌Mykhailo ⁠Fedorov said.

Fedorov, speaking at a joint ​press ​conference ⁠after the meeting, said ​that the ​total ⁠value of support packages ⁠could ​exceed $4bn.

At least two people were killed and another ⁠two wounded after Russia hit the northeastern Ukrainian ⁠region ​of Sumy ⁠with bombs, drones ⁠and missiles.

Another five, including three children, ‌needed medical assistance ‌after Russia hit Ukraine’s ⁠second-largest city of Kharkiv with bombs, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram.

The attacks come after Russia vowed to launch a “massive” retaliation against Ukraine after Kyiv launched its biggest attack on Russia.