In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Russia has unleashed its most extensive drone assault on Ukraine since the onset of the conflict, as reported by Ukraine’s military on Sunday. This surge in military aggression occurs concurrently with ongoing peace negotiations between the two nations, which took place last Friday.
The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that Russia launched a staggering 273 Shahed drones in a single night, primarily targeting the central region of Kyiv. Tragically, this attack resulted in the death of a 28-year-old woman and left three others injured, including a four-year-old child. Mykola Kalashnik, the governor of the Kyiv region, provided these updates, highlighting the devastating impact of the assault.
In a statement shared on social media, Ruslan Stefanchuk, the head of Ukraine’s parliament, expressed outrage over the attack, saying, “The air raid alarm lasted almost nine hours. This is what Putin’s ‘sincere desire for peace’ looks like.” He described the assault as “terror in its purest form,” noting the destruction of residential buildings, damage to a high-rise structure, and multiple fires caused by the drone strikes.
Ukraine’s emergency services reported that the massive drone attack ignited several fires throughout the Kyiv region. A total of 55 rescue workers were deployed to manage the emergency and assist those affected by the destruction.
In addition to the drone attack on Kyiv, Russian shelling in the Donetsk region resulted in one fatality and left eight individuals injured, according to Vadym Filashkin, the head of the Donetsk regional military administration. Furthermore, Russian drones targeted the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, as indicated by regional military chiefs.
The latest military assault follows a separate drone strike in Ukraine’s northeastern region of Sumy, which tragically killed at least nine people and injured seven just hours after the two nations engaged in direct peace discussions. These negotiations, held in Turkey, ended without any significant breakthroughs. While both sides discussed potential meetings between their presidents, a ceasefire, and a prisoner swap, no concrete agreements were reached.
During the negotiations, Russia insisted that Ukraine cede territories still under its control, a demand that has been firmly rejected by Ukrainian officials. The leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Poland condemned Russia’s position as “unacceptable.”
In a recent interview with a Russian state media journalist, President Vladimir Putin expressed a desire to “eliminate” the underlying causes of the conflict, suggesting a potential shift in strategy. Meanwhile, Donald Trump announced plans to speak with Putin on Monday regarding potential resolutions to the ongoing war in Ukraine, emphasizing a belief that substantial progress in peace talks hinges on direct conversations between the leaders.
As the situation unfolds, global attention remains focused on the conflict, with the international community closely monitoring the latest developments in both military actions and diplomatic discussions.
