Two people have been killed in fresh Russian drone attacks across Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials, as key European leaders gathered in London on Sunday to discuss increasing pressure on Moscow and explore pathways toward ending the prolonged conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to hold talks with the leaders of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom as efforts continue to address the ongoing war, which has now stretched into its fifth year. The discussions come amid reports of military and economic challenges facing Russia as the conflict continues.
In southern Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, emergency officials reported that a 56-year-old minibus driver lost his life following a Russian drone strike. The State Emergency Service confirmed the incident in a statement published on Telegram on Sunday.
Another fatality was recorded in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where a 59-year-old man was killed during a separate attack involving drones and aerial bombs. Regional military administrator Oleksandr Ganzha disclosed that the strikes targeted two districts in the area.
According to Ganzha, the assault also left a 35-year-old man injured while causing damage to local infrastructure. Emergency services have been working to assess the extent of the destruction and provide support to affected communities.
In a separate development, Ukrainian authorities reported damage to a facility used for storing spent nuclear fuel within the exclusion zone surrounding the Chernobyl nuclear site. Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear energy company, Energoatom, stated that the structure sustained partial damage during a Russian strike.
The company clarified that the storage building was not housing nuclear material at the time of the attack and assured the public that radiation levels remained within normal limits. Nonetheless, the incident has renewed concerns about the safety of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities amid ongoing hostilities.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga condemned the attack, arguing that Russian military actions continue to endanger critical nuclear infrastructure. Writing on social media platform X, he accused Moscow of creating risks to nuclear safety through its military operations.
The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia launched a massive overnight aerial assault involving 236 drones. According to military authorities, Ukrainian air defence systems successfully intercepted 215 of the incoming drones, limiting the scale of potential damage.
Despite the continued attacks, recent battlefield assessments indicate a shift in momentum. An analysis by AFP using data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) earlier this month suggested that Ukraine regained more territory than it lost during May for the second consecutive month.
Meanwhile, the war continues to place significant strain on Russia’s economy. Rising inflation, increased taxation, elevated borrowing costs, labour shortages, and business closures have contributed to mounting economic pressures since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
President Zelensky recently renewed calls for direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In an open letter issued on Thursday, the Ukrainian leader proposed a face-to-face meeting and reiterated his willingness to support a comprehensive ceasefire agreement.
However, speaking at Russia’s flagship economic forum on Friday, Putin dismissed suggestions that the Russian economy was nearing collapse. He argued that Russia’s economic performance was comparable to growth levels experienced in parts of the Eurozone in recent years, while maintaining Moscow’s commitment to its strategic objectives in the conflict.
As diplomatic discussions continue in London, international attention remains focused on whether renewed negotiations and increased pressure from Western allies can help move the conflict closer to a resolution.
