Russia has launched new drone and missile strikes on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, and Odesa, a port city, resulting in three fatalities and damage to a maternity hospital, according to Ukrainian officials.
Moscow has intensified its bombardments across Ukraine, while Kyiv has retaliated with strikes deep within Russian territory.
Recent talks held in Turkey failed to produce any significant breakthroughs in efforts to end the three-year conflict.
Other than an agreement to exchange prisoners, progress has been minimal.
Following an overnight assault involving over 300 drones and seven missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Kyiv’s Western allies to take “concrete action.”
“Action from America, capable of compelling Russia towards peace. Action from Europe, which has no option but to display strength,” Mr. Zelensky posted on social media.
He also noted that two missiles in the latest attacks were sourced from North Korea.
Air raid alerts in Kyiv and several regions of Ukraine persisted for five hours.
Russia’s defense ministry reported that it targeted “Ukrainian aviation, missile, armored vehicle, and ship-building facilities in Kyiv” with a “group strike.”
“The objective of the strikes was accomplished. All specified targets were struck,” the ministry asserted.
However, residential buildings and hospital facilities were hit in Odesa, resulting in two deaths and at least nine injuries, according to Governor Oleg Kiper.
“The enemy launched a massive drone attack on Odesa,” Kiper wrote on Telegram.
“Russians targeted a maternity hospital, an emergency medical ward, and residential buildings,” he added, noting that the maternity hospital had been timely evacuated.
Prisoner swap
In central Kyiv, multiple explosions, anti-aircraft fire, and the sound of buzzing drones were audible.
Air raid alarms in Kyiv and many Ukrainian regions lasted for five hours, concluding around 5 am (3 am Irish time), military reports indicated.
City officials confirmed one woman was killed and four were injured.
The mayor reported that strikes impacted at least seven districts, igniting fires in buildings and vehicles.
Russia’s 2022 invasion has sparked the most significant European conflict since World War II, displacing millions and ravaging much of eastern and southern Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia unleashed a record 479 explosive drones on Ukraine overnight into yesterday.
In response, Kyiv has targeted transport and weapons production infrastructure within Russian territory.
In Belgorod, close to the border with Ukraine, Russian emergency services reported one fatality from a Ukrainian drone attack on a gas station.
Russia’s defense ministry claimed it intercepted 102 Ukrainian drones overnight.
A Russian drone is shot down by Ukrainian air defenses over Kyiv.
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Despite pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump for a ceasefire agreement, peace talks remain stalled.
The only tangible outcome from the Istanbul talks last week was a large-scale prisoner swap and the repatriation of deceased soldiers’ remains.
Yesterday, Russia and Ukraine successfully exchanged a first group of captured soldiers, with Mr. Zelensky stating that the exchange will “continue in several stages over the coming days.”
This arrangement is expected to facilitate the release of all captured soldiers under 25 years old, as well as those who are ill or severely injured.
However, Mr. Zelensky remarked last week that further discussions with the current Russian delegation were “pointless”—having previously dismissed them as “empty heads”—due to their inability to agree on a ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Russian forces are maintaining steady progress along the front lines.
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire after a building was struck in Kyiv.
During the weekend, Moscow announced that it had extended its offensive into the Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time, signifying a significant territorial escalation.
“It’s time for everyone to recognize that Russia understands only strikes, not rational dialogue,” said Mr. Zelensky’s chief aide, Andriy Yermak, indirectly criticizing the Trump administration.
As a prerequisite for ceasing its invasion, Russia has insisted that Ukraine concede territories it claims to have annexed and abandon its aspirations to join NATO.
Additionally, it has rejected a proposed 30-day unconditional ceasefire sought by Kyiv and the European Union, arguing that this would allow Ukrainian forces to rearm with Western supplies.
Ukraine demands a complete withdrawal of Russian forces from its territory along with security assurances from the West.
