Five people have been killed in renewed drone and missile strikes exchanged between Russia and Ukraine, as both countries continue to escalate aerial assaults while peace talks show little progress.
Ukrainian officials reported that more than 200 drones and nearly 30 missiles were launched by Russia overnight, with the majority targeting Dnipropetrovsk. In the city of Dnipro, three civilians were killed and six others injured when a residential block, industrial sites, and a shopping center were hit.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Rostov region also came under attack. The region’s acting governor confirmed that two people died after a vehicle caught fire following a Ukrainian drone strike. These retaliatory attacks come amid increasing tension and sustained combat in eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an update on social media platform X, condemned the Russian attacks on Kharkiv and Sumy, warning that such strikes “cannot be left without response.” He emphasized Ukraine’s use of long-range drones to hit military sites and airports inside Russia, stating that these measures are “arguments that will surely bring peace closer.”
On the battlefield, Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed to have captured the villages of Zelenyi Hai in Donetsk and Maliivka in Dnipropetrovsk. In contrast, Zelensky asserted that Ukrainian forces were making gains in the northeastern Sumy region, reportedly liberating the village of Kindrativka from Russian control. He noted that although Sumy remains a key Russian objective, Ukrainian troops are consistently blocking further incursions.
In Donetsk’s Pokrovsk area, Zelensky reported 51 intense combat engagements in the past 24 hours, highlighting ongoing fierce fighting.
These developments come shortly after a third round of ceasefire talks in Istanbul ended without progress. Initiated by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has pushed for an end to the war, previous rounds in May and June also failed to yield tangible results. Both sides continue to blame each other for the lack of compromise.
As drone warfare intensifies and frontlines remain fluid, prospects for peace remain uncertain, with civilians continuing to bear the brunt of the conflict that began with Russia’s invasion in 2022.
