Russia launched its largest drone assault in overnight attacks from Saturday into Sunday on Ukraine since the start of its full-scale invasion, with a total of 273 drones deployed, according to the Ukrainian air force.
At least one person was killed, and three others, including a four-year-old child, were injured in the Kyiv region, regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported. The attack also caused damage in the regions of Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk.
Ukrainian air defences said they intercepted 88 of the incoming drones, while another 128 went off radar.
Russia’s largest known drone attack before this was on the eve of the war’s third anniversary, when 267 drones were launched against Ukraine.
The escalation in hostilities comes as diplomatic efforts continue. On Saturday, former US President Donald Trump announced plans to call Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss a potential resolution to the conflict.
This follows Friday's first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine since the beginning of Moscow's all-out war, which were held in Turkey. Although the two sides failed to reach a ceasefire agreement, they did agree on a prisoner exchange. Both sides have agreed to meet again.
Putin rejected Zelenskyy’s offer to meet face-to-face in Turkey prior to the meeting. Instead, he suggested direct talks, but not at the presidential level, as an alternative to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by Ukraine and its Western allies, including the United States.
