In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the onset of the conflict, according to Ukraine’s military. This aggressive move comes on the heels of direct peace talks held between Moscow and Kyiv just days prior.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 273 Shahed drones in a single night, with the central Kyiv region being the primary target.
According to Mykola Kalashnik, the governor of the Kyiv region, a tragic incident has resulted in the death of a 28-year-old woman, while three others, including a four-year-old child, sustained injuries.
Ruslan Stefanchuk, the speaker of Ukraine’s parliament, reported via social media on Sunday that the air raid alarm persisted for nearly nine hours. This is the manifestation of Putin’s purported ‘sincere desire for peace.’
The assault resulted in the destruction of residential structures, inflicted damage on a high-rise building, and ignited fires in garages. Stefanchuk stated, “This is terror in its purest form.”
Ukraine’s emergency services reported that the “massive attack” resulted in multiple fires, with 55 rescue workers dispatched to the scene.
In a tragic incident on Saturday, Russian shelling in the Donetsk region resulted in one fatality and left eight others injured, as reported by Vadym Filashkin, the head of the Donetsk regional military administration. Regional military officials reported that Russian drones have also targeted the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.
In a recent report by TASS, a Russian state news agency, it was revealed that Russian forces have successfully intercepted 75 Ukrainian drones within the last 24 hours, according to information from Russia’s defence ministry.
A recent assault follows a Russian drone strike on a bus in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region, resulting in the deaths of at least nine individuals and injuring seven others on Saturday. This incident occurred mere hours after the two nations engaged in their first direct peace talks since the initial weeks of Russia’s 2022 invasion.
The negotiations held in Turkey did not result in a significant breakthrough. Officials from the two nations discussed a potential meeting between their presidents, the establishment of a ceasefire, and a mutually agreed-upon prisoner exchange.
The discussions concluded a series of exchanges: President Vladimir Putin of Russia initiated the request for an in-person meeting but ultimately did not participate, opting instead to dispatch a junior delegation after dismissing Ukraine’s suggestion for a 30-day ceasefire.
According to a source familiar with the discussions on Friday, Russia insisted that Ukraine relinquish territory currently held by Kyiv in the recent negotiations. Ukraine has consistently rejected this demand. Leaders from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Poland have deemed Russia’s position in the negotiations “unacceptable.”
During a Sunday television interview with a journalist from Russian state media, Putin expressed his desire to “eliminate” the underlying causes of the conflict. The footage displayed a date banner indicating March 27, yet its release on Sunday may suggest that Moscow’s position remains steadfast in anticipation of any forthcoming negotiations.
On Saturday, the US president revealed that Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Putin on Monday to discuss resolving the Ukraine conflict. Former President Trump has expressed his belief that meaningful progress in peace negotiations is unlikely until he has a direct conversation with President Putin.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced on Saturday that arrangements are being made for a phone conversation between the two leaders.
