Russia Intensifies Assault: Biggest Drone Attack Since Invasion Rocks Ukraine
Kyiv, Ukraine – In a dramatic escalation of the conflict, Russia has launched its most extensive drone attack since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, according to Ukrainian officials. The assault, which targeted multiple regions including the capital Kyiv, has raised serious concerns about the possibility of de-escalation.
According to Ukraine's air force, Russia deployed a staggering 273 drones by 08:00 Sunday (05:00 GMT), focusing on the central Kyiv region, as well as Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions in the east. The strikes resulted in at least one fatality on the outskirts of Kyiv, with three others reported injured.
This intense barrage comes just a day after the first face-to-face talks in over three years between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Turkey. While the talks yielded a new prisoner swap deal, the drone attacks cast a shadow over any potential progress towards peace.
Ukraine's air force reported that 88 Shahed attack drones were intercepted, while another 128 "went astray 'without negative consequences'".
Andriy Yermak, a top aide to the Ukrainian president, condemned the attacks, stating that they demonstrate Russia's lack of genuine interest in ending the war. "For Russia, the negotiations [on Friday] in Istanbul are just a pretence. Putin wants war," Yermak asserted.
Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday that he and leaders of Britain, France, and Poland would have a virtual meeting with Trump before his conversation with Putin on Monday morning.
The previous largest drone attack occurred on February 23, the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion, when Moscow launched 267 drones. The latest assault surpasses this, signaling a concerning intensification of Russia's military actions.
The international community closely monitors the situation, with mounting pressure for a ceasefire. The US President has been urging a ceasefire. However, the recent drone attacks indicate a potential divergence between diplomatic efforts and on-the-ground realities.