Russian Strikes Kill 2, Spark Nationwide Drone Attacks in Ukraine

Overnight Russian bombardments in eastern Ukraine resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to several others, as reported by local authorities. The attacks involved more than three dozen glide bombs dropped in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions, while a drone strike in Kropyvnytsky wounded ten people, including children, and caused significant damage to residential areas. Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak condemned the strikes, stating that they exemplify Russia's disregard for a ceasefire. In response, Russia claimed to have intercepted a large number of Ukrainian drones during the attacks, with the Defense Ministry reporting 132 drones shot down across multiple regions. Concurrently, Russian officials announced a state of emergency in the Engels district following a Ukrainian drone attack on a military airfield, which resulted in fires and damage to local infrastructure. The ongoing conflict continues to escalate despite recent diplomatic talks aimed at reducing hostilities.