Russia Launches Largest Drone Strike on Kyiv, Eastern Ukraine Killing Civilians

Russia launched its largest drone attack of the war on Ukraine, deploying 273 kamikaze Shahed drones targeting Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk regions, resulting in the death of a 28-year-old woman and injuries to several civilians including a 4-year-old child. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 88 drones and electronically disrupted 128, while 57 drones reportedly hit their targets, damaging residential buildings and infrastructure. The attack came shortly after peace talks in Istanbul failed to produce a ceasefire, with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy condemning the strikes as deliberate and calling for stronger sanctions on Moscow. U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to speak with both Putin and Zelenskyy to broker an end to the conflict, although Russian President Putin declined a direct meeting with Zelenskyy. European leaders remain cautious, emphasizing a ceasefire as a prerequisite before discussing peacekeeping forces. Additionally, a separate Ukrainian strike on a Russian ammunition store in Crimea reportedly killed at least 15 Russian conscripts, underscoring the ongoing intensity of the conflict.