Russian drones slam a southern Ukraine city after Kyiv’s 1,000-drone weekend barrage

Russian drones attacked the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on Sunday, following Kyiv's forces' barrage of over 1,000 drones at Russia in the previous two days, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's statement on social media. The relentless daily attacks highlight the lack of significant progress in diplomatic efforts to halt the conflict, more than four years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The drone strikes targeted apartment blocks, a university, a shopping mall, and other sites in Zaporizhzhia, resulting in injuries to five people. Russian forces also struck nine other regions of Ukraine, including military logistics hubs, warehouses, and ports, as reported by the Russian Defense Ministry. In response to the Ukrainian drone offensive, Russia claimed to have shot down 244 Ukrainian drones over its regions and the Black Sea waters.

Simultaneously, Ukraine's air force reported downing or suppressing 148 Russian drones during the night. The drone attacks have occasionally crossed into neighboring countries, causing concern among leaders wary of Russia and fearing potential entanglement in the conflict. Moldova, neighboring Ukraine, reported a temporary closure of part of its airspace due to a drone intrusion. Moldova's President Maia Sandu has repeatedly condemned Russia's war on Ukraine, emphasizing that the brutal conflict is now reaching its border.