Russian strikes kill three across Ukraine as Kyiv renews ceasefire call

07:00

Three people were killed in separate Russian attacks across Ukraine overnight, according to regional authorities, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed his appeal for a ceasefire and direct negotiations with Moscow.

Ukrainian military officials reported that Russia launched a large-scale aerial assault involving long-range drones and missiles. Air defense systems intercepted the majority of the incoming drones, limiting the overall impact of the attacks, although several regions still suffered casualties and damage.

Local authorities said that a woman was killed in the Zaporizhzhia region following a drone strike, while a 75-year-old man lost his life in the southern Kherson region after another unmanned aerial attack. In the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, a woman was reportedly killed during a series of drone and artillery strikes targeting the city of Pavlohrad and surrounding areas.

The latest attacks come amid renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing hostilities. President Zelensky recently proposed a direct meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and reiterated Ukraine’s willingness to implement a comprehensive ceasefire during negotiations in pursuit of a political solution to the conflict.

Since the escalation of the war in 2022, both sides have continued to exchange long-range strikes. While Russian forces regularly target Ukrainian territory, Ukraine has also intensified attacks against military and strategic infrastructure in Russia and in territories under Moscow’s control.

Russian authorities reported intercepting more than one hundred Ukrainian drones overnight, including several approaching the Moscow region. The incidents occurred as political and business leaders gathered for a major economic forum in Saint Petersburg, where President Putin is expected to address participants.

The ongoing exchange of attacks highlights the fragile security situation despite repeated international calls for de-escalation and diplomatic engagement. Analysts note that prospects for peace remain uncertain as military operations continue on both sides of the front line.