In the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, both countries engaged in massive air strikes targeting each other’s military infrastructure on Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he would be sending a team of negotiators to Istanbul for another round of peace talks, despite accusations against Russian President Vladimir Putin for attempting to sabotage the negotiations.
Prior to the scheduled talks, both sides launched some of the most significant air attacks since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukraine’s security service, the SBU, carried out strikes on four Russian military airfields deep inside Russia, where strategic bombers used in air raids were based. According to SBU officials, more than 40 aircraft were hit in a coordinated operation that took place thousands of kilometers away from the front lines.
Videos captured by Ukrainian reconnaissance aircraft showed Russian airfields in flames and drones attacking planes, with SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk reportedly approving the attacks. The operation, codenamed Spiderweb, was meticulously planned over a year in advance and personally supervised by President Zelenskyy. It involved the use of small drones armed with explosives smuggled into Russia and launched from hidden structures transported on lorries.
President Zelenskyy has been vocal in criticizing Putin for failing to provide a memorandum outlining Russia’s conditions for peace, which had been promised to Kyiv and Washington ahead of the upcoming negotiations. The Ukrainian delegation, led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, will push for a full and unconditional ceasefire, the release of prisoners, the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia, and a meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin.
On the Russian side, the delegation will be led by Vladimir Medinsky, along with other officials and experts. Moscow launched a significant drone attack over Ukraine, deploying 472 drones in the largest drone assault since 2022. Explosions were reported in various cities, and Ukrainian air defenses were activated over Kyiv. Russian forces also launched ballistic and cruise missiles, resulting in casualties and damage in multiple locations.
The conflict has escalated in the Ukrainian region of Sumy, where Russian forces control a significant amount of territory. Zelenskyy warned of a potential offensive towards the regional capital, prompting the mandatory evacuation of several villages in the area. The situation remains tense as both sides continue to engage in military operations, underscoring the urgency of finding a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict.
