Cliff Notes – Russia launches ‘heaviest drone attack’ on Ukraine since start of war
- Russia conducted its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the war began, firing 273 drones across multiple regions, surpassing previous records.
- Among the attacks, a 28-year-old woman was killed in Kyiv, and nine civilians died after a bus was struck by a drone in Sumy.
- The escalation in hostilities coincides with planned phone calls between US President Donald Trump and both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding peace negotiations.
Russia launches ‘heaviest drone attack’ on Ukraine since start of war
Russia has launched its heaviest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of the war in 2022, the Ukrainian military has said.
A total of 273 exploding drones were reportedly fired across the Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions between Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Some 88 were intercepted and 128 “lost”, having been electronically jammed, Ukraine’s air force said.
It passes the previous record of 267 drones on the eve of the war’s third anniversary earlier this year.
In Kyiv, a 28-year-old woman was killed, and three people, including a four-year-old child were injured, according to regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk.
Just outside the city, firefighters fought to control flames at business premises destroyed by drone attacks. Russia has not commented.
It comes ahead of a planned phone call between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Mr Trump has promised to speak to Mr Putin and then President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday about “ending the war” after the first direct talks between their two countries failed to yield a ceasefire this week.
Mr Putin snubbed Mr Zelenskyy’s offer of face-to-face talks in Turkey.
Sources
Russia launches largest drone attack against Ukraine ahead of expected Trump-Putin call – CNN
Ukraine’s leader meets with US and European officials ahead of high-stakes Trump-Putin call – AP
Russia launches war’s largest drone attack ahead of Putin-Trump call – Reuters