In a series of overnight strikes, five individuals have lost their lives in Russia and Ukraine, highlighting the ongoing exchange of drone attacks between the two nations.
On Saturday, Ukrainian officials reported that Russia launched over 200 drones and nearly 30 missiles, primarily aimed at Dnipropetrovsk, resulting in the deaths of three individuals.
In Russia, the governor of Rostov reported that two individuals lost their lives in the region due to a car fire ignited by a Ukrainian drone strike.
The recent attacks unfolded amid updates from both sides regarding their military operations. Russia asserted that it had captured two villages in eastern Ukraine, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that troops were “gradually pushing Russian forces out” of the Sumy region.
Ukrainian President Zelensky reported that Russian strikes have also hit Kharkiv and Sumy. He emphasised that these attacks “cannot be left without response,” highlighting that Ukrainian long-range drones are capable of providing that response.
He stated that Russian military sites and airports “must recognise that Russia’s own war is now impacting them with tangible repercussions” and remarked that Ukraine’s drone attacks were “among the factors that will undoubtedly bring peace nearer.”
According to the head of the Dnipropetrovsk region, six individuals sustained injuries as a result of the recent strikes. In the city of Dnipro, residential blocks and industrial zones were impacted, while a shopping centre was struck in the surrounding district.
On Saturday, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced that its forces had taken control of two villages: Zelenyi Hai in the Donetsk region and Maliivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Ukrainian President Zelensky provided an update on X, stating that Ukrainian forces are successfully pushing Russian troops back in the Sumy region.
He stated, “While this region continues to be a key focus for the enemy, our forces are effectively thwarting Russian efforts to penetrate further into the Sumy region from the border areas.”
Reports have emerged indicating that the village of Kindrativka in the region has been liberated from Russian control.
Zelensky reported that there had been “51 intense combat engagements” in the Pokrovsk area of Donetsk over the past 24 hours, indicating that troops were actively defending their positions.
In the wake of a short-lived third round of ceasefire discussions held in Istanbul earlier this week, both parties persist in exchanging drone strikes.
On Wednesday evening, delegations from Ukraine and Russia convened for discussions; however, the negotiations did not yield any progress in resolving the ongoing conflict. Each party levelled accusations against the other, claiming a dismissal of their respective proposals.
Ceasefire discussions commenced in May and June, initiated by US President Donald Trump. He has consistently expressed a desire to bring an end to the “horrible, bloody war” that erupted following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
