Russia strikes Ukraine with 72 drones on Independence Day

Russia strikes Ukraine with 72 drones on Independence Day

Russia launched a fresh wave of aerial strikes on Ukraine overnight into Sunday, targeting multiple regions with drones and a ballistic missile as Ukrainians marked their Independence Day.

According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia deployed 72 drones and an Iskander-M ballistic missile in its latest attack.

Ukrainian defences intercepted 48 of the drones, while the missile and 24 drones struck 10 different locations across the country.

The attack came as Ukraine began commemorations for the 34th anniversary of its 1991 break from the Soviet Union.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a statement from his office, described the ongoing conflict with Russia as the country’s “war for independence,” noting that Ukrainians have endured 1,278 days of full-scale war since February 2022.

To mark the occasion, Zelenskyy also shared a message from President Donald Trump, who praised Ukraine’s resilience and called for peace.

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“The Ukrainian people have an unbreakable spirit, and your country’s courage inspires many,” Trump wrote, urging a “negotiated settlement” that would secure Ukraine’s sovereignty while ending the bloodshed.

Zelenskyy thanked the United States for its continued support, stressing the need for joint efforts to achieve “real peace.”

Meanwhile, Ukraine carried out its own long-range strikes inside Russia, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry.

Russian officials reported that air defenses shot down 95 Ukrainian drones over 14 regions.

Local authorities said drone debris caused injuries and damage in the Bryansk region, while strikes were reported near key infrastructure, including the Syzran oil refinery in Samara and the Novatek gas terminal in Ust-Luga.

The ministry also confirmed at least one drone was intercepted on the approach to the capital, Moscow, with others downed over St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region.

Russia’s aviation regulator, Rosaviatsiya, temporarily restricted flights at 11 airports, including in Pskov, Saratov, Volgograd, and St. Petersburg.

In the western Kursk region, officials reported that a Ukrainian drone struck and caused a fire at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, damaging an auxiliary transformer. The International Atomic Energy Agency reiterated that nuclear sites must be safeguarded at all times.

Russia strikes Ukraine with 72 drones on Independence Day