Russian forces launched waves of deadly strike drones into Ukraine overnight, killing one person and injuring more than a dozen as cross-border violence escalates. Moscow's troops focused their attacks on the Ukrainian regions of Odesa and Kharkiv, stepping up strikes on civilian infrastructure, including energy and water supplies.
As many as 193 strike drones were used in the assault, including Iran-designed Shahed drones, 75 of which were jet-powered. Up to 26 locations were hit in the attack.
Hacked Alarms in Both Countries
Civilian mobile apps in Ukraine were falsely warned of street fighting, nuclear attacks and chemical alarms, hours before a similar hack hit Russian communities. In the middle of the night, Russian apps were hacked as locals were told of imminent nuclear attacks and other alarms, coinciding with the end of a highly-publicised local ceasefire.
The Russian-occupied city of Oleshky has been largely evacuated as hundreds fled starvation and the horrors of war during a days-long cessation of fighting brokered by the US.
Zelensky Open to Meeting Putin
Despite the escalation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is willing to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for forthcoming peace negotiations in Turkey. He said: "We are ready for this meeting in Turkey. I know that President Erdoğan has his own ties with Putin. That is why we support holding a meeting in Turkey."
He added that he would also be prepared to attend a G20 meeting in Miami if Ukraine is invited, despite rising tensions between Kyiv and Washington. But he stressed Ukraine must be present for any negotiations on its future. He said: "It is impossible. You cannot decide Ukraine's fate without Ukraine. That would be unfair and would lead nowhere. It is illogical to negotiate the fate of a country without the country itself being present."
Refugees Reunited After Ceasefire
Many Ukrainians have escaped into neighbouring Belarus, from where they have made their way back into Ukraine to be reunited with families. Families wept as they embraced relatives they had not seen for years, with two sisters running and crying out as they hugged their father. Some elderly residents were so weak they were carried on stretchers.
They had been trapped in the frontline city without food, water and electricity, with many resorting to cooking garden weeds to survive. However, there are growing suspicions that Russia used the Oleshky ceasefire to re-arm and step up its occupation of the town, moving heavy equipment into the area. Zelensky underlined Russia's failure to take over Ukraine in the past five years, despite Putin intending to overrun Kyiv within three days. He said: "Russia, for instance, considered itself a great power and claimed it would conquer Ukraine in three days. We are now entering the fifth year of the war. For five years, Russia has been unable to conquer Ukraine."
