Russian drone strikes near Kyiv killed three people and injured several others, while Ukrainian drones targeted 12 regions in Russia, disrupting operations at one factory. This attack is part of ongoing aerial assaults that Russia has launched almost daily since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, primarily aimed at military and energy infrastructure.

The strike in Kyiv caused black smoke to rise from a damaged residential building, with rescue teams pulling out the bodies of the victims. "Three people were killed in an enemy attack in the Kyiv region," Ukrainian emergency services confirmed on social media, adding that drone fragments had hit a 10-story building, with a private home also affected.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 25 Russian drones across several regions, including Kyiv and Lviv. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks and urged Western allies to impose stricter sanctions on Russia to hinder its arms production. "There must be accountability for every component used in the production of Shaheds and missiles supplied in violation of sanctions," Zelensky stated.

The attack on Kyiv coincided with Russia claiming to have repelled a Ukrainian drone assault on Moscow. The Russian Ministry of Defence reported that air defense systems intercepted 121 Ukrainian drones over Moscow, Crimea, and Bryansk. State media revealed that six drones caused production and storage facility damage in Bryansk, halting operations at a microelectronics factory.

This escalation comes amid ongoing tensions between Moscow and Kyiv, as both sides position themselves ahead of potential negotiations. Despite former US President Donald Trump's earlier statements about quickly ending the war, recent comments have seen him increase pressure on Putin to negotiate, threatening severe economic measures if Russia does not agree to a peace deal soon.

Channelstv