Amid ongoing covert diplomatic efforts to broker peace, the Russo-Ukrainian conflict witnessed significant military escalation with cross-border attacks claiming civilian lives and targeting energy infrastructure. In central Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian drone strikes demolished a residential building, resulting in the tragic death of a 12-year-old boy and injuring two women. Regional military administration head Vladyslav Haivanenko confirmed the assault occurred Thursday night, with Ukrainian air force reports indicating Russia launched 137 drones of various types overnight.
Simultaneously, Ukrainian forces executed long-range strikes targeting Russian territory. Attacks hit the Temryuk sea port in Krasnodar region near the Ukrainian border, causing substantial fires and damaging port infrastructure. Ukrainian drones penetrated deeper into Russian territory, striking the city of Syzran approximately 800 kilometers east of the border. While Syzran Mayor Sergei Volodchenkov confirmed the attack without elaboration, unverified media reports indicated Ukrainian drones successfully hit a strategic oil refinery in the Volga river city.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed successful interception of 85 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions and illegally annexed Crimea overnight.
These developments unfolded against a backdrop of discreet diplomatic maneuvering. U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner were scheduled to meet with Ukrainian delegates in Miami on Thursday, though official confirmation of the meeting remained pending. This followed Tuesday’s discussions between President Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoys at the Kremlin, marking the latest attempt to break the nearly four-year conflict stalemate.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized his delegation sought clarity regarding the Kremlin discussions, expressing concerns about Russian pretexts to prolong hostilities. European allies supporting Kyiv simultaneously worry about potential Russian aggression beyond Ukraine and advocate for robust security guarantees in any prospective peace agreement.
Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov, accompanying Putin on his India visit, criticized European nations for allegedly presenting ‘unacceptable demands’ that complicate Washington and Moscow’s settlement efforts on Ukrainian issues.