Diplomatic negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict have stagnated, with the last formal discussion between the involved parties almost three weeks ago, and no future talks planned.
Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kiev’s military administration, stated, “Another massive attack on the capital is underway, likely involving multiple waves of enemy drones.”
According to Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko, two individuals were hospitalized from injuries sustained in the Solomianski district, while two others were hurt near a metro station in the Sviatochinski district, as confirmed by Tkachenko.
Reporters from AFP in Kiev reported hearing the sound of drone activity over the city center, accompanied by explosions and gunfire. Witnesses observed about ten people taking refuge in a basement of a residential building, anxiously checking their phones for updates.
These latest drone attacks come just after Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky pledged to escalate military operations against Russia. “We will not merely defend ourselves, as that is futile and often results in retreat, loss of lives, and territory,” he communicated to the press.
Syrsky affirmed that Ukraine would persist in targeting Russian military installations, asserting that these measures have shown to be “effective.” “Indeed, we will continue and enhance our efforts,” he declared.
Throughout the conflict, Ukraine has undertaken retaliatory strikes against Russian targets, focusing on critical energy and military infrastructure, sometimes situated hundreds of kilometers from the front lines. Officials in Kiev maintain that these actions are a justified response to the lethal Russian assaults on Ukrainian infrastructure and civilians.
In a tragic turn, at least four casualties were reported overnight due to a Russian strike on an apartment building in Kramatorsk, followed by another attack on a Ukrainian army training facility that claimed three additional lives, according to local authorities.
In a broader context, Syrsky acknowledged that Russia indeed possesses certain advantages in drone warfare, especially regarding the utilization of fiber-optic drones that are challenging to disrupt. “Regrettably, they have the upper hand in both numbers and operational range,” he noted.
