Russia, Ukraine Exchange Heavy Drone Strikes Amid Ceasefire Talks/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Amid ongoing ceasefire discussions, Russia and Ukraine launched heavy aerial attacks overnight, with more than 100 enemy drones reported over each country. The strikes follow Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss a 30-day truce proposal, which Kyiv has endorsed but Moscow has yet to confirm. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of military buildup, while Russian officials reported drone debris causing fires near a major oil refinery. Energy infrastructure in Ukraine’s Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk regions suffered significant damage, leaving some residents without power.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict Quick Looks:
- Overnight Attacks: Russia and Ukraine exchanged aerial strikes, with Ukraine reporting 178 Russian drones and two ballistic missiles launched overnight.
- Ukraine’s Energy Grid Targeted: Russian strikes on power infrastructure in Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk left residents without electricity.
- Russia Reports Drone Strike Near Oil Refinery: A Ukrainian drone attack in Volgograd caused a fire near a Lukoil refinery.
- Ceasefire Talks in Limbo: Putin met U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss a 30-day truce, but Russia has yet to commit.
- Zelenskyy Denies Troop Encirclement: The Ukrainian president dismissed Trump’s claim that Ukrainian forces were trapped in Russia’s Kursk region.
Russia, Ukraine Exchange Heavy Drone Strikes Amid Ceasefire Talks
Deep Look:
Russia, Ukraine Trade Drone Strikes as Ceasefire Talks Stall
As Russia and Ukraine continue ceasefire negotiations, both sides unleashed significant aerial attacks overnight, targeting critical infrastructure and military positions.
Overnight Aerial Attacks Escalate Conflict
- Ukraine’s air force reported 178 Russian drones and two ballistic missiles launched overnight.
- Ukrainian defenses shot down 130 drones, while 38 more failed to reach their targets.
- Russia focused its strikes on Ukraine’s energy sector, with attacks damaging power facilities in Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk.
- Ukraine targeted Russia’s Volgograd region, where falling drone debris sparked a fire near a Lukoil oil refinery.
Ceasefire Proposal Faces Uncertainty
The strikes come just a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin met with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire.
- Putin expressed conditional support but outlined key issues that need clarification before committing.
- Kyiv has endorsed the truce but remains skeptical of Moscow’s true intentions.
Zelenskyy Accuses Russia of Military Buildup
On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of intensifying military movements, casting doubt on its willingness to negotiate peace.
“The buildup of Russian forces indicates that Moscow intends to keep ignoring diplomacy. It is clear that Russia is prolonging the war,” Zelenskyy stated.
Zelenskyy also responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent claim that thousands of Ukrainian troops were trapped by Russian forces in Kursk:
“Our forces remain operational in the Kursk region. There is no encirclement of our troops,” he asserted.
Energy Infrastructure in Ukraine Hit Hard
- Russia’s attacks left parts of Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk without electricity.
- DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, confirmed significant damage but said crews were working to restore power.
Ukraine Targets Volgograd Oil Refinery
In response, Ukraine launched drone strikes on Russia’s Volgograd region, targeting a Lukoil oil refinery:
- Gov. Andrei Bocharov confirmed the fire but did not disclose further details.
- Nearby airports briefly halted flights due to security concerns.
What’s Next?
- Ceasefire talks remain uncertain as Putin’s commitment to the truce is unclear.
- Further airstrikes could escalate tensions, complicating diplomatic efforts.
- Mediators from the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar continue to push for a resolution.
Despite international calls for de-escalation, both sides remain locked in a cycle of retaliation, leaving the future of peace talks in doubt.
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