Russia Pounds Ukrainian Cities with Hundreds of Drones and Missiles Amidst Peace Efforts

In a significant escalation of tensions, Russian forces launched a massive assault on Ukrainian cities early Thursday, using hundreds of combat drones and missiles, even as international diplomatic efforts to end the conflict intensify. According to the "Kyiv Independent," Russia launched 614 drones and missiles in an overnight attack, which resulted in at least one death. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that its units shot down 546 drones and 31 missiles.

Reports indicated damage to industrial infrastructure in the Kyiv-controlled part of the Zaporizhzhia region, and explosions were heard in both the capital Kyiv and the western city of Lviv, prompting the activation of air defense systems. Residents were urged to stay in shelters as the attacks continued throughout the night, while accurate information on the extent of damages and casualties remains unavailable.

In a reciprocal move, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its air defense systems had destroyed 49 Ukrainian drones over several Russian regions, including the Crimean Peninsula and the Rostov, Voronezh, and Belgorod provinces, among others. These mutual attacks coincide with intensive diplomatic efforts led by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has hosted meetings with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an attempt to arrange a potential trilateral summit.

In a related development, the Ukrainian government announced it is working on a "security concept" for the post-war period. Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian presidential office, confirmed that Ukrainian teams, led by the military, have already begun active work on the military component of security guarantees. Yermak also stated that he held consultations with national security advisors from Germany, Italy, France, Britain, Finland, the EU, and NATO, affirming that Ukraine is ready for any format of dialogue for a "just" end to the war and that Russia will face "painfully additional pressure" if it does not cooperate.