Russia launched a massive drone and airstrike assault on Ukraine over the weekend, killing at least four people and injuring several others. The attacks came after former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed doubts about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to end the ongoing conflict. Despite previous claims of a potential peace deal, Trump’s skepticism has cast new uncertainty on the prospects of a resolution. The drone assault involved nearly 150 Russian drones targeting various Ukrainian cities, with the heaviest impact in the Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Russian Drone Attack Strikes Across Ukraine
On Sunday, Russia launched a series of airstrikes and drone attacks across Ukraine, resulting in civilian casualties. According to Ukrainian authorities, at least three people died and four were wounded in the Donetsk region due to airstrikes on the city of Kostyantynivka. This came after a drone attack on Pavlohrad in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where one person was killed, and a 14-year-old girl was injured. Local officials reported that Pavlohrad had been hit for the third consecutive night.
Trump Questions Putin’s Desire for Peace
Former U.S. President Donald Trump cast doubt on the likelihood of a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, suggesting that Putin’s actions contradicted any genuine interest in ending the war. Trump, who had recently stated that a peace deal was “very close,” now criticized Russia for continuing its missile strikes on civilian areas, questioning why such attacks would happen if peace was the goal.
Trump wrote on social media, just hours after attending Pope Francis’ funeral in Vatican City, that Russia’s missile strikes on civilian areas showed no intention of pursuing peace. Trump also hinted at potential further sanctions against Russia, signaling continued U.S. pressure on the Kremlin.
Trump’s comments followed a brief meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Vatican, marking the first face-to-face interaction between the two leaders since a heated meeting at the White House in late February.
Drone Attacks Intensify Across the Country
Russia’s latest wave of attacks involved 149 drones, including decoys designed to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses. The Ukrainian air force reported that 57 of the drones were intercepted, while 67 were jammed. Despite the defenses, the attacks led to casualties in several regions. In the Odesa region, one person was injured in a drone strike, while another was wounded in Zhytomyr. Additionally, four people were injured in an airstrike on Kherson early Sunday morning, according to local officials.
Fighting Continues in Kursk Region
The latest Russian assault coincided with reports that Russian forces had regained control of parts of the Kursk region, which had been seized by Ukrainian forces in a surprise attack last August. Ukrainian officials, however, stated that fighting in the Kursk region was still ongoing. The battle for control over this area remains a significant point of contention between the two sides.
Russian Claims of Downing Ukrainian Drones
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that its air defenses shot down five Ukrainian drones in the Bryansk region, located near the border, and three drones over the Crimean Peninsula. The peninsula, which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, has been a focal point of tensions in the ongoing conflict.
Escalation of Violence in Donetsk Region
The Donetsk region, particularly the city of Horlivka, also saw violence as Ukrainian forces shelled the area, injuring five people. Horlivka is located in the partially occupied Donetsk region, where Russian-backed separatists control parts of the territory. The situation remains tense, with no immediate signs of de-escalation.
