Russia conducted a massive aerial assault on Ukraine overnight, diminishing hopes for a prompt peace agreement between the two sides. The intense bombardment, lasting several hours, targeted six Ukrainian regions, resulting in the deaths of at least six individuals and injuries to around 80 others, as reported by Ukrainian officials on Friday. Among the casualties were three emergency responders in Kyiv, one person in Lutsk, and two individuals in Chernihiv.
The airstrike followed a drone attack by Ukraine on Russian military airfields, prompting a retaliatory response from Moscow, according to U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump’s remarks indicating a willingness to let the conflict escalate before pursuing peace marked a departure from his previous appeals for an end to hostilities.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian cities have been under constant bombardment, resulting in the deaths of over 12,000 civilians, as per the United Nations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remarked, “Russia doesn’t change its stripes.”
Despite two rounds of direct peace talks facilitated by the U.S., Russia and Ukraine have not made significant progress towards resolving the conflict. Ukraine proposed a 30-day ceasefire and a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin to break the deadlock, but Russia has shown reluctance to agree to a truce.
The latest Russian assault involved 407 drones and 44 ballistic and cruise missiles, with Ukrainian forces managing to intercept a significant number of them. The attacks resulted in casualties among emergency workers in Kyiv and civilian buildings being hit, aligning with the pattern of Russian strikes during the war.
In the aftermath of the assault, multiple injuries were reported in various Ukrainian regions, including Ternopil, Lviv, Khmelnytskyi, Chernihiv, and Poltava. Additionally, Russia claimed to have shot down Ukrainian drones and missiles heading towards its territory, while Ukraine targeted military installations in Russia.
The conflict continues unabated, with both sides remaining at odds over terms for a ceasefire. Despite upcoming peace talks and a potential prisoner exchange, the prospects for a swift resolution to the war remain uncertain.
