Russia and Ukraine Exchange Drone Attacks as Kyiv Secures Expanded UAV Production
Russia and Ukraine targeted each other with hundreds of drones on Sunday, disrupting air travel in Russia while Ukrainian officials confirmed new agreements with Western partners to increase unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) production. Moscow’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, reported six Ukrainian drones striking the capital, with two more detected near St. Petersburg. Russia’s civil aviation authority temporarily closed several airports, including those in major cities, leading to numerous flight delays.
Ukrainian authorities stated that Russian UAV strikes wounded three people in Kyiv and at least two in Kharkiv. A separate assault using Shahed drones damaged port facilities in Mykolaiv, affecting warehouses and power infrastructure, though no injuries were reported.
In eastern Ukraine, prosecutors said Russian forces used a glide bomb and a drone to kill four civilians and injure another in Kostyantynivka. The drone hit a car carrying a married couple, killing both instantly.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky announced agreements with European partners and a major US defense firm to expand UAV manufacturing, ensuring the delivery of hundreds of thousands more drones this year. While not naming the company, Zelensky also confirmed a joint production deal with Denmark for drones and other weapons.
Russian forces claimed control of Piddubne in Donetsk and Sobolivka in Kharkiv, though Ukraine did not immediately respond to these assertions. Piddubne, formerly home to approximately 500 residents, lies near Dnipropetrovsk, while Sobolivka is situated near Kupiansk, outside areas Russia currently occupies, according to US-based conflict analysts.
French President Emmanuel Macron will visit the UK this week, addressing parliament and leading discussions on Ukraine. A Franco-British summit in London is expected to focus on bolstering defense cooperation in response to Russia’s actions. Plans include potential post-ceasefire security measures and strategies to push for an unconditional truce. This marks the first state visit by a French president to Britain since 2008.
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