Russia and Ukraine Engage in Intense Drone Battles Over the Weekend
In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russia and Ukraine engaged in extensive aerial assaults, each side reporting the deployment of over 100 drones across their territories. This surge in hostilities coincided with a recent meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, where discussions revolved around a proposed 30-day ceasefire in the conflict.
During a press conference, President Putin expressed his general support for a truce but highlighted numerous details that needed clarification before any agreement could be finalized. While Ukraine has shown support for the ceasefire proposal, Ukrainian officials remain skeptical about Russia’s genuine commitment to such an arrangement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of increasing its military presence along the border, suggesting that Moscow is consciously ignoring diplomatic efforts and seeking to prolong the war. He emphasized that Ukrainian forces are maintaining their positions in the Kursk region, despite claims from former U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that Ukrainian troops were encircled by Russian forces. Zelenskyy firmly stated, "The operation of our forces in the designated areas of the Kursk region continues. There is no encirclement of our troops."
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force reported a significant assault from Russia, which included 178 drones and two ballistic missiles aimed at various targets. Ukrainian defense systems successfully intercepted around 130 of those drones, while damage to energy infrastructure was reported, especially in the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions. This attack left some residents without electricity, prompting swift action from Ukraine’s private energy company DTEK to restore power as quickly as possible.
In a related incident in Russia’s Volgograd region, Governor Andrei Bocharov confirmed that debris from downed drones started a fire near a local oil refinery, with no casualties reported. Local airports temporarily suspended flights due to safety concerns. The refinery has been a target in previous conflicts as Ukraine has conducted operations against strategic Russian facilities since the onset of the war.
As the conflict continues to unfold, the situation remains tense, with both sides vying for strategic advantages amid ongoing discussions of possible ceasefire agreements.
