This week, fighting continued to rage all along the front lines. Russia continued to strike Ukrainian cities and towns deep in the rear with missiles and drones. The towns of Kostiantynivka and Pokrovsk in Donetsk region could be the centre of Russia’s summer campaign, The Economist said on Sunday, adding that Putin unleashes a summer offensive to break Ukraine.
Russia launched a major drone and missile strike at Ukraine overnight into Tuesday, in what appears to be one of the largest attacks of war on the capital Kyiv. The city of Odesa was also heavily hit. Russia sent into the country 322 Shahed and decoy drones and seven missiles. Ukraine’s military intercepted all seven missiles and shot down or otherwise neutralized 277 drones.
A Russian attack on Kyiv on Tuesday damaged Saint Sophia Cathedral, a UNESCO world heritage site located in the historic center. A drone attack on Kharkiv overnight on Wednesday killed three people and injured at least 60 others, including nine children.
Russia’s war losses now top one million. Ukraine has returned more sick and seriously wounded service members in a prisoner swap with Russia on Thursday. Earlier this week, Ukraine and Russia exchanged prisoners of war under the age of 25, sick and seriously wounded prisoners and the remains of dead soldiers. A majority of Ukrainians have a negative view of President Trump and the U.S. leadership, a poll found.
Ukraine drones attack Crimea overnight
Numerous social media reports said early on Friday that drones attacked a number of sites across the Russia-occupied peninsula and air defenses were at work.
Eyewitness accounts cited by Telegram channel Krymskiy Veter (Crimean Wind) described hearing explosions and drone buzzing in Simferopol and on the outskirts of the city after 3 a.m. local time. Explosions also rocked Yevpatoriya, Sevastopol, the Bakhchysaray district, Feodosiya, Alushta, Saky, Novofedorivka, Kacha and the Kirovskyi district.
Unconfirmed reports said the drones likely hit targets at military sites, including at the Saky, Hvardiyske and Kirovske air bases.
Russian defense ministry said it had shot down 125 Ukrainian drones overnight on Friday, including 70 over Crimea.
