In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russia has ramped up its offensive against Ukraine, launching the most crucial number of drones and missiles in a single night to date.
Ukrainian officials reported that at least 12 individuals, among them three children, lost their lives, while dozens more sustained injuries.
The recent attack marks the second significant assault on the nation within 48 hours, following a day after the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, experienced one of the most intense bombardments since the onset of the Russian invasion.
Overnight strikes on Saturday occurred amid Russia’s continued disregard for calls for a ceasefire.
In a statement released on Sunday morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that rescuers were actively engaged in operations across more than 30 cities and villages following a “massive” strike.
“Russia is prolonging this conflict and persists in taking lives daily,” he stated.
The world may pause for a weekend, yet the war persists, unaffected by the passage of days. This issue demands attention.
Ukraine is once more calling on its allies to intensify pressure on Moscow to pursue a ceasefire.
He emphasized that without significant pressure on the Russian leadership, the ongoing cruelty is unlikely to cease, urging the implementation of new sanctions.
Zelensky remarked that “America’s silence will only encourage Putin,” seemingly aiming to apply pressure on US President Donald Trump, who has indicated that the Russian leader is keen on concluding the conflict.
In February 2022, Putin initiated a comprehensive invasion of Ukraine, resulting in Moscow’s control over approximately 20% of Ukrainian land.
The statement encompasses Crimea, the southern peninsula of Ukraine that was annexed by Russia in 2014.
Saturday night marked a significant escalation, as it recorded the highest number of drones and missiles launched to date.
Russia is not only capable of manufacturing them at an accelerated pace, but the country is also witnessing an evolution in its development. Shahid drones are increasingly being equipped with enhanced explosives and advanced technology designed to avoid detection.
According to Ukraine’s Air Force, as of 20:40 local time on Saturday (17:40 GMT), Russia has launched a series of attacks involving 367 missiles of different types, along with uncrewed aerial vehicles and drones.
The air force reported that it successfully intercepted 45 cruise missiles and neutralized 266 UAVs, impacting most regions across Ukraine, with strikes documented in 22 locations.
Several regions have reported fatalities.
Russia’s defense ministry reported that it has successfully targeted military airfields, ammunition depots, and electronic warfare stations, asserting that damage has been inflicted across 142 locations.
Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, reported that 13 regions have been attacked, resulting in over 70 injuries, damage to 80 residential buildings, and 27 fires.
He described it as a “coordinated, merciless assault targeting civilians.”
According to Ukraine’s state emergencies service DSNS, among the 12 individuals who lost their lives, three were children aged eight, 12, and 17 in the Zhytomyr region.
Klymenko stated that they belonged to the same family and that their parents were currently hospitalized.
According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (DSNS), a tragic incident in the Kyiv region has resulted in the deaths of four individuals, with 16 others injured, among them three children.
Local officials in Kyiv have confirmed that 11 individuals sustained injuries, alongside reports of multiple fires and damage to residential structures, including a dormitory.
In a significant response to the unfolding situation, hundreds of individuals sought refuge in the city’s extensive metro stations. The sound of drones reverberated through the atmosphere, intermittently interrupted by the thuds of air defenses and the sharp echoes of impact. Multiple reports of fires have emerged.
A colleague from the BBC contacted her to report that a block of flats just a five-minute drive from her residence had been destroyed.
The strikes occur concurrently with the city’s celebration of its annual Kyiv Day holiday.
The Russian defense ministry reported the destruction and interception of 110 Ukrainian drones across 12 Russian regions and the Crimea peninsula during the early hours between midnight and 0700 local time.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that authorities intercepted and shot down 12 drones that were approaching the capital.
He noted that emergency services crews were dispatched to evaluate the damage caused by debris that fell from a drone.
In the Tula region, located south of Moscow, drone debris fell into the courtyard of a residential building, resulting in shattered windows across several apartments, according to local governor Dmitriy Milyaev.
He stated that no injuries were reported.
Sunday marks the conclusion of a significant prisoner-of-war exchange between the two factions, and following this weekend, prospects for enhanced cooperation appear increasingly bleak.
On Friday, a significant prisoner exchange took place between Ukraine and Russia, with each side transferring 390 soldiers and civilians. This marks the largest such exchange since the onset of Russia’s full-scale assault in February 2022.
On Saturday, President Zelensky revealed that an additional 307 Ukrainian prisoners had been repatriated as part of a prisoner exchange agreement with the Kremlin.
On Sunday, both Ukraine and Russia announced that 303 of their soldiers had been repatriated, resulting in a cumulative total of 1,000 prisoners returned over three days.
The exchange follows the first in-person discussions between the two parties in three years, which were held in Turkey.
This week, former President Trump and Russian President Putin engaged in a two-hour phone conversation focused on a ceasefire proposal for Ukraine put forth by the United States.
Former President Trump expressed confidence in the outcome of the call, stating it had gone “very well.” He further indicated that Russia and Ukraine would “immediately start” negotiations aimed at achieving a ceasefire and “an end to the war.”
Despite ongoing discussions, Putin has indicated that Russia is willing to collaborate with Ukraine to develop a “memorandum” regarding a “possible future peace.” However, he has not agreed to a 30-day ceasefire.
