Fresh waves of drone and missile attacks have left at least five dead in overnight strikes across Russia and Ukraine, as both sides intensify their military operations.
In Ukraine, officials reported that Russian forces launched over 200 drones and nearly 30 missiles, with the majority targeting the Dnipropetrovsk region. The assault resulted in three fatalities and six injuries, damaging residential buildings, industrial sites, and a shopping center. Meanwhile, in Russia’s Rostov region, authorities confirmed two deaths after a Ukrainian drone strike ignited a vehicle.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russian attacks also struck Kharkiv and Sumy, vowing retaliation through long-range drone operations. “Russian military installations must understand that their aggression is now met with real consequences,” he said, emphasizing that such strikes would hasten the path to peace.
On the battlefield, Russian forces claimed the capture of two villages—Zelenyi Hai in Donetsk and Maliivka in Dnipropetrovsk. However, Zelensky countered that Ukrainian troops were successfully repelling Russian advances in the Sumy region, where reports indicated the liberation of Kindrativka village. Heavy fighting persisted in Donetsk’s Pokrovsk area, with 51 clashes recorded in a single day.
The latest violence follows failed ceasefire negotiations in Istanbul earlier this week, where both sides accused each other of rejecting proposed terms. Previous talks, mediated at the request of former U.S. President Donald Trump, also yielded no progress.
As drone warfare escalates, the conflict shows no signs of abating, with each side continuing to target infrastructure and military positions in a relentless cycle of strikes and counterstrikes.
