Intense Drone Attacks in Ukraine

Kyiv: Overnight into Sunday, Russia conducted its most severe drone attack on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. This escalation followed a recent in-person meeting between Moscow and Kyiv, which did not lead to a ceasefire.

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested direct negotiations in Turkey, though not at a level involving Ukraine. This came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed face-to-face discussions in Turkey rather than the 30-day ceasefire advocated by Western allies like the United States.

During the meeting in Istanbul on Friday, both sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war. However, the talks ended in under two hours without achieving a ceasefire. Ukrainian intelligence director Kirilo Budanov mentioned on Saturday that the exchange might take place as soon as next week.

US President Donald Trump announced he would be speaking with Putin on Monday and subsequently with NATO leaders and Zelensky to discuss ending the conflict in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched a total of 273 explosive drones and decoys, intercepting 88, while another 128 may have been lost due to electronic interference. The attacks primarily targeted the Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk regions.

Yuriy Ihnat, who heads the communications division of the Ukrainian Air Force, stated that this barrage marked the largest drone assault since the onset of the invasion.

Previously, on the eve of the war’s third anniversary, Russia was known to have attacked with 267 drones in a single strike.

Kyiv Regional Governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported that a 28-year-old woman lost her life in the drone attack, with three others injured, including a four-year-old child.

In response, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed to have shot down seven Ukrainian drones overnight and another 18 on Sunday morning.