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Ukraine reported on Sunday that Russia launched an unprecedented number of drones targeting several areas, including the capital, Kiev, where some women lost their lives. In the Kherson region, a man was killed as private property and rail stations were hit. The Ukrainian Air Force indicated that Russia deployed “273 Shahed Attack drones along with various imitation drones,” of which 88 were intercepted, while another 128 were misdirected with no significant consequences. Additionally, Ukrainian intelligence suggested that Moscow might be planning to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile later that day, though there was no immediate response from Russia regarding these claims.
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Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Swillidenko emphasized that the number of drones used was a record, asserting, “Russia has a clear goal: to keep killing civilians.” Meanwhile, Russian forces claimed to have intercepted 25 Ukrainian drones overnight leading up to Sunday. Moscow also stated that it had taken control of Bakhathir, a village in the Donetsk region, as part of an effort to bolster military operations despite ongoing peace talks in Istanbul.
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Leaders from Britain, France, Germany, and Italy have reiterated the necessity of sanctions against Russia in a conversation that included Donald Trump. According to the British Prime Minister’s Office, Trump is scheduled to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, as part of his ongoing attempts to negotiate an end to the war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. A spokesperson for Kiel Starmer noted that discussions centered on an unconditional ceasefire and emphasized the importance of serious engagement in peace negotiations from Putin’s side, especially concerning the use of sanctions while Russia isn’t genuinely involved in ceasefires.
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Ukrainian President Voldy Meezelensky had a meeting with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as reported by Peter Beaumont. This meeting occurred on the sidelines of the inauguration of Pope Leo, just two days after the first in-person discussions between Ukraine and Russia in three years took place in Türkiye.
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After his discussion with Vance, Zelenskyy commented that “the Russians sent low-level delegations without any real decision-making power.” Topics addressed included Russia, bilateral trade, defense cooperation, the situation on the battlefield, and the need for sanctions regarding future prisoner exchanges. A senior official from Zelenskyy’s office remarked that this meeting was “better” compared to past interactions, where Zelensky faced accusations of being “disrespectful” and lacking gratitude.
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Calls to take action against the blurred “shadow fleet” of Russian oil tankers in the Baltic Sea were highlighted during the EU Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Monday. Sanctions on approximately 180 ships are expected to be imposed, as mentioned by Patrick Wintour. Currently, the Northern European seas, including the Danish Channel, see about three loadings per day. Adding more vessels could increase the total to 350 ships under EU sanctions.
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The Shadow Fleet is believed to fund about a third of Russia’s budget while carrying 85% of its oil exports. The situation escalated when a Russian Sukhoi SU-35 aircraft, suspected of transporting Russian oil, entered Estonian airspace. This incident appeared to be retaliation for the tanker named Jaguar, which was escorted out of Estonian waters by the navy after concerns arose about potential threats to underwater cables.
