KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – In an ongoing escalation of the conflict, Russia and Ukraine engaged in long-range drone attacks as Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated Moscow's willingness to initiate a new series of peace talks in Istanbul. This engagement occurs amid the protracted war, which has now lasted over three years, and there are ongoing discussions regarding the timing of potential meetings between Russian and Ukrainian officials.
Putin, during a press conference in Belarus, mentioned that the terms of a potential ceasefire would be among the topics discussed, although the Kremlin has largely dismissed such proposals thus far. Despite being open to negotiations, the war shows no signs of ending, with U.S.-led international peace initiatives failing to achieve any breakthroughs. Two recent rounds of talks in Istanbul between representatives of Russia and Ukraine yielded limited results and did not facilitate advancement toward a settlement.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated that Ukraine desires the next phase of peace discussions to involve a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Putin. However, the prospects for this meeting remain uncertain. Putin has expressed that a summit should only occur after the primary aspects of a peace agreement are resolved, a process that he suggested could take months or even years. Additionally, Putin reiterated his stance that Zelenskyy's legitimacy expired after his presidential term concluded last year, a claim that is widely rejected by Kyiv and its allies.
Amid these political developments, Russian forces launched 363 Shahed and decoy drones, accompanied by eight missiles, targeting Ukraine overnight. The Ukrainian air force reported intercepting all but four of the drones and destroying six cruise missiles. Conversely, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed the destruction of 39 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions, including Rostov and Volgograd, both located east of Ukraine.
Reports from Ukraine's General Staff indicated that four military aircraft stationed at the Marinovka airfield in the Volgograd region were destroyed during a mission involving Ukrainian Special Forces and intelligence. This operation reportedly targeted enemy aircraft, including Su-34s, and a technical unit responsible for servicing various combat aircraft. However, the Associated Press could not independently verify this information, and Russian officials did not provide immediate commentary regarding these claims.
The use of drones has become prevalent in the ongoing conflict. Both Russia and Ukraine are engaged in a technological race to develop more advanced and lethal drones, turning the war into a testing ground for innovative weaponry. Ukraine has notably executed successful operations, damaging a significant portion of Moscow's strategic bomber fleet in covert missions utilizing inexpensive drones. The Ukrainian air force noted that 359 incoming drones were either intercepted or jammed.
To counter Russia's ongoing missile and drone assault, Ukraine is reportedly using newly developed interceptor drones instead of relying solely on ground teams. Recent Ukrainian attacks temporarily halted flights at three Russian airports and resulted in a brief closure of the Crimean Bridge as drones targeted the region.
Despite the absence of major damage or casualties reported from either side during these drone strikes, the conflict's toll on civilians is considerable. The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine recorded at least 395 civilian deaths and 2,635 injuries attributed to short-range drone attacks since the war's onset, with approximately 90% of these incidents involving Russian forces. These attacks not only instill fear among civilians but also disrupt daily life, limiting access to essential resources such as food and medical services.
