New Escalation: Ukraine Strikes Russia with Drones on Independence Day

Ukraine launched a wave of drone attacks on Russian territory on Sunday, causing fires at critical facilities, including a nuclear power plant. This escalation coincides with Kyiv's celebration of its Independence Day and comes amid dwindling hopes for a peace agreement after diplomatic efforts led by President Donald Trump stalled.

Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Hinterlands

In response to recent Russian advances in the Donetsk region, Ukraine retaliated with drone attacks. One drone was shot down over the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in western Russia, exploding upon impact and causing a fire that was later contained without injuries or radiation leaks.

Russian authorities also reported shooting down other Ukrainian drones over areas far from the front lines, including the port of Ust-Luga on the Gulf of Finland, where a significant fire broke out at a fuel terminal owned by the Russian energy group Novatek. Ukraine heavily relies on drones to target Russian oil infrastructure, aiming to cripple a key source of war funding. Russia has seen a sharp increase in fuel prices since these attacks began.

Independence Celebrations and Political Discourse

These battlefield developments coincided with Ukraine's commemoration of its 1991 independence. In his address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy affirmed that his country is "not a victim, but a fighter," and that the current attacks are a response to "ignored calls for peace." Despite the stalled mediation efforts by former President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy thanked world leaders for their supportive messages.

Stalled Peace Prospects and On-the-Ground Situation

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov indicated that no meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy is currently planned, which has dampened the peace hopes that had been raised by Trump's push for a summit. Meanwhile, Russia now controls approximately one-fifth of Ukraine's territory and continues to make slow advances in some areas. The humanitarian crisis persists, with millions displaced and entire cities and villages destroyed by the fighting.