Russia unleashed its most intense drone assault on Ukraine since the onset of its full-scale invasion in 2022, following the breakdown of direct peace talks between the two countries in Istanbul.
The escalation underscores the fragile state of diplomacy, as hopes for a temporary ceasefire were dashed after a brief round of negotiations failed to produce any breakthrough.
On Sunday, Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russian forces fired a staggering 273 drones and decoys overnight, targeting key regions including Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk.
Of these, 88 drones were shot down while 128 were neutralized through electronic jamming. The remaining drones inflicted damage across the targeted areas, with officials confirming civilian casualties.
Kyiv regional Governor Mykola Kalashnyk confirmed that a 28-year-old woman was killed, and three others—including a four-year-old child—were wounded in the Kyiv region during the overnight assault. Ukrainian officials described the attack as the largest drone barrage since the beginning of the invasion, surpassing the previous record of 267 drones launched in February 2024.
The attack followed an unsuccessful round of peace talks in Istanbul, the first direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv in years. Despite high hopes, the discussions ended in less than two hours without agreement on a ceasefire.
Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposal for a face-to-face meeting, despite having earlier suggested negotiations at a lower level as an alternative to the 30-day ceasefire backed by Ukraine and Western allies, including the United States.
Nevertheless, a positive outcome did emerge: both sides agreed to a mutual exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war, which Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov stated could take place as early as next week.
In response to the escalating situation, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to hold phone conversations on Monday with both Putin and Zelenskyy, as well as with NATO leaders, to discuss potential solutions to end the war in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that its own air defenses intercepted seven Ukrainian drones overnight and 18 more on Sunday morning, signaling continued reciprocal strikes amid the ongoing conflict.
As the war grinds on with no clear path to peace, the latest drone onslaught highlights both the technological evolution of warfare and the immense human cost of the continued hostilities.
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