WEB DESK: Ukrainian and Russian delegations are scheduled to meet in Istanbul for ceasefire negotiations. The talks come a day after Kyiv launched a series of unprecedented drone strikes across Russian territory.
According to Russia’s Defence Ministry, airbases in five regions—including Murmansk and Irkutsk—were targeted, resulting in fires at several fighter jet hangars.
Although some attacks were successfully repelled, no casualties were reported. The ministry also confirmed that two bridges in Russia were destroyed, causing the derailment of two trains.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the drone operations, describing them as “absolutely brilliant,” and revealed that planning for the attacks had begun over a year and a half ago. Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s defensive stance, stating, “We are doing everything to make Russia feel the need to end this war.”
Meanwhile, in Ukraine’s Dnipro region, a Russian missile strike on a military base resulted in at least 12 soldiers killed and over 60 wounded, according to local officials. The escalation underscores the fragile state of the conflict as diplomatic efforts resume in Turkey’s largest city.
