A massive Russian drone strike hit Ukraine’s Odesa on Tuesday. The attack killed one person and injured four others. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s capital Kyiv also reported drone strikes.
Drone Hits Hospital and Homes
According to Odesa Governor Oleg Kiper, the drones struck a maternity ward and nearby homes. As a result, a 59-year-old man died. “The enemy targeted civilians,” Kiper posted on Telegram.
Notably, this strike came just a day after Ukraine launched “Operation Spider Web.” That operation targeted Russian airbases. In response, Moscow launched what it called retaliatory attacks.
Sirens Sound Across Ukraine
During the early morning hours, air raid sirens sounded across most of Ukraine. The alerts remained active in eastern regions such as Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv. Consequently, many residents rushed into shelters.
Russia Grounds Flights in Moscow
Meanwhile, Russia halted all flights at Moscow’s four main airports. Its civil aviation agency said the move was for safety reasons. This came after reports of a Ukrainian drone strike in Russian airspace.
Additionally, Russian defense systems claimed to have shot down 76 Ukrainian drones in just two hours late Monday. This followed Russia’s own record-breaking drone attack on Ukraine.
Peace Talks Face Setbacks
At the same time, peace efforts showed little progress. Despite attempts by US President Donald Trump to broker a ceasefire, the second round of peace talks in Turkey ended without major breakthroughs.
So far, the only agreement reached is to release seriously wounded or sick prisoners of war. The deal also includes those under the age of 25. However, both sides avoided giving specific numbers.
Russia and Ukraine Stand Firm
Russia continues to demand that Ukraine give up territories Moscow claims to have annexed. In addition, it wants Ukraine to promise never to join NATO.
On the other hand, Russia rejected a 30-day unconditional ceasefire proposed by Kyiv and the European Union. Moscow argued that such a truce would let Ukraine restock weapons from Western allies.
In contrast, Ukraine insists on a full Russian withdrawal and security guarantees from the West. Ukrainian officials have dismissed Moscow’s demands as “ultimatums.”