Russia’s Latest Attacks Undermine Ukraine Negotiations/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Russia launched drone and missile attacks on Ukraine Saturday, killing at least two, including a 9-year-old girl. As casualties mount, uncertainty surrounds Moscow’s proposed peace talks set for early next week in Istanbul. Ukrainian officials remain skeptical after Russia failed to deliver a promised negotiation memorandum.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict Update: Quick Looks
- Two civilians killed, including a 9-year-old girl in Zaporizhzhia
- Over 100 Russian drones, five missiles launched overnight
- Ukrainian air defenses downed 45 aerial threats
- Russia claims gains in Donetsk and Sumy regions
- Ukraine orders evacuations in 213 Sumy settlements
- Kyiv remains wary of upcoming peace talks in Istanbul
- Zelenskyy accuses Moscow of “undermining diplomacy”
- Ukrainian drones strike targets inside Russia’s Kursk region
- 14 civilians injured in retaliatory strikes on Russian towns
- Peace talks await Kremlin’s missing proposal document
Deep Look: Russia’s Attacks Kill 2, Kyiv Questions Peace Talks
KYIV, Ukraine — At least two Ukrainian civilians, including a 9-year-old girl, were killed in a wave of Russian drone and missile strikes overnight into Saturday, further complicating fragile diplomatic prospects ahead of Moscow’s proposed peace talks in Istanbul next week.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 109 drones and five missiles targeting multiple regions. Ukrainian defenses shot down 42 drones and three missiles, while another 30 drones failed to reach their intended targets, averting wider destruction.
Civilian Deaths in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson
The most tragic loss occurred in Dolynka, a frontline village in the Zaporizhzhia region, where a Russian strike killed a 9-year-old girl and injured a 16-year-old, regional governor Ivan Fedorov confirmed. Several homes and cars were damaged in the blast.
In the Kherson region, a man was killed during artillery shelling, according to Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin. Both regions remain highly vulnerable due to their proximity to Russian front lines.
Moscow’s Defense Ministry has not responded to queries regarding the civilian casualties.
Russia Claims Territory, Ukraine Orders Mass Evacuations
On Saturday, Russia announced new territorial gains, claiming to have seized the village of Novopil in Donetsk and Vodolahy in the northern Sumy region. In response, Ukrainian authorities ordered evacuations in 11 more settlements in Sumy, raising the total to 213.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that 50,000 Russian troops had massed along the Sumy border in what he said may be preparation for a major offensive to establish a military buffer zone inside Ukrainian territory.
Ukraine Strikes Back: Drones Hit Russian Towns
Ukraine launched drone strikes inside Russia, targeting the town of Rylsk and the village of Artakovo in the Kursk region. Local Russian officials reported 14 injuries, including four children, after drones damaged residential buildings. The Russian-appointed acting governor, Alexander Khinshtein, condemned the attack.
Peace Talks in Limbo as Russia Fails to Deliver Document
Despite these battlefield developments, eyes remain on the proposed peace negotiations set to resume Monday in Istanbul. However, uncertainty clouds the talks as Russia has yet to deliver a promised memorandum outlining its terms for ending the over three-year-long conflict.
Andrii Yermak, senior adviser to Zelenskyy, confirmed that Ukraine is open to discussions, but stressed the importance of transparency and preparation.
“The Russians are concealing this document. This is an absolutely bizarre position,” Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post. “There is no clarity about the format.”
Russia has previously said the memorandum would be presented at the talks, but its absence is seen in Kyiv as a deliberate delay tactic.
Escalating Conflict, Fragile Diplomacy
As military engagements intensify and both sides continue cross-border attacks, the road to diplomacy appears increasingly fragile. Ukrainian officials remain skeptical of Moscow’s sincerity, especially following ongoing offensives.
“Russia continues to undermine diplomacy with every missile it launches,” a Ukrainian government official told local media.
The Istanbul talks, if held, could offer the first substantial diplomatic engagement in months. However, without preconditions or formal proposals, optimism remains low.
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