Kiev, Ukraine (AP) – As of Sunday, Russia has conducted its most intense drone assaults on Ukraine since the escalation of the invasion in 2022.
In a surprising move, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to a proposal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet in Turkey, sidelining the 30-day ceasefire suggested by Ukraine and its Western allies—though the proposal wasn’t made at the highest diplomatic level.
While officials from both sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war, a meeting in Istanbul on Friday ended in less than two hours without a ceasefire in place. Kirilo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s intelligence agency, mentioned during a television interview that the exchange might happen as soon as next week.
US President Donald Trump announced plans to speak with Putin on Monday, followed by discussions with NATO leaders and Zelensky regarding efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported on Sunday that Russia launched a total of 273 explosive drones and decoys, with 88 intercepted and another 128 lost, likely due to electronic interference. The assaults primarily targeted regions like Kiev, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk.
Yuriy Ihnat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, stated that this was the largest drone offensive since the full-scale invasion commenced.
Prior to this, the most notable drone attack occurred on the eve of the war’s third anniversary, where Russia deployed 267 drones against Ukraine.
Kyiv Regional Governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported that a 28-year-old woman lost her life in one of the drone strikes, while three others, including a four-year-old child, sustained injuries.
On the Russian side, the Ministry of Defense claimed its air defenses shot down seven Ukrainian drones in one night, with another 18 intercepted on Sunday morning.
