Early Saturday, Russia launched an extensive offensive against Ukraine, deploying a mix of missiles, drones, and bombs, culminating in the tragic deaths of at least five individuals. This attack was perceived as a direct retaliation for a significant Ukrainian strike targeting air bases just days prior.
In the context of this escalation, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andriy Sybiga, has urged Western allies to increase sanctions on Russia in order to halt its ongoing invasion. He emphasized the necessity for a more aggressive approach towards Moscow to put an end to the violence and destruction that has plagued Ukraine since the onset of the conflict. Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, tens of thousands have lost their lives, and the conflict has become the largest in Europe since World War II, devastating cities and displacing millions.
These attacks coincided with a soon-to-occur prisoner swap, anticipated to mark the sole concrete outcome from the current peace discussions. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia had launched 206 drones and nine missiles during this latest assault. Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, experienced what its mayor, Igor Terekhov, called the “most powerful attack since the beginning of the full-scale war.” The city, which was home to approximately 1.4 million residents before the war, is situated about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Russian border. According to local authorities, this barrage targeted residential areas, resulting in at least three fatalities and injuring 17 others, including two children.
Furthermore, in the southern region of Kherson, Russian shelling claimed the lives of a couple and damaged multiple high-rise buildings. Additional attacks were documented across Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, and Ternopil regions. Rescuers in Lutsk, near the Polish border, reported discovering a second casualty from strikes that happened a day earlier, identifying the victim as a young woman in her twenties.
This surge in aerial assaults follows a relatively bold Ukrainian operation that recently affected Russian air bases, including installations housing nuclear-capable military aircraft, prompting strong promises of retaliation from Russian President Vladimir Putin. In response, Russia claimed to have intercepted 36 Ukrainian drones attempting to cross into its territory.
Amid escalating tensions, Ukraine has called for an immediate and unconditional 30-day ceasefire during peace talks in Istanbul. However, Russia, which currently occupies approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, has persistently rejected such calls, labeling the conflict as “existential” for its national interest, safety, and future.
Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated this perspective, stating that the stakes are a matter of national interest for Russia, amid ongoing discussions involving high-level communication between Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. During a recent conversation, Putin assured Trump of a structured response to the recent drone attacks.
The Kremlin has laid out a series of uncompromising demands that Ukraine must fulfill if it is to see a cessation of hostilities. These include the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from four regions claimed by Russia, an end to Western military assistance, and prohibiting Ukraine’s accession to NATO. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, has dismissed these demands as outdated ultimatums and expressed skepticism about the purpose of continuous dialogue, calling instead for a summit involving himself, Putin, and Trump.
As both nations prepare for a significant prisoner exchange this weekend, hopes for immediate peace remain fragile amid the intensifying conflict.
