Ukrainian authorities report that Russian strikes across several regions have resulted in at least five deaths and damage to a vessel in the port of Odesa. At the same time, Moscow stated that its air defences intercepted more than 200 Ukrainian drones.

According to Sumy regional governor Oleh Hryhorov, a Russian drone attack on Saturday killed two men in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region. The strike targeted civilians in the border town of Bilopil, located near Russia.

In the central Dnipropetrovsk region, Governor Oleksandr Ganzha said attacks on four separate districts left one person dead and four others injured.

Further south in Kherson, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported that seven people were wounded as a result of Russian shelling.

In the eastern Zaporizhia region, Governor Ivan Fedorov said Russian forces carried out more than 700 strikes on 50 settlements within a 24-hour period. Two people were killed and four injured in the attacks.

He added that residential buildings, vehicles and key infrastructure facilities sustained damage.

In the Odesa region, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba stated that Russian forces once again targeted port infrastructure.

“The strike caused damage to port and logistics facilities, warehouses, technical equipment, cargo storage tanks, administrative buildings and freight transport,” Kuleba said.

He also confirmed that a civilian ship flying the flag of Palau was damaged while loading cargo at the port. No crew members were injured.

Ukraine’s air force reported that it shot down or electronically disabled 124 of the 144 drones launched overnight by Russia, with confirmed impacts recorded in 11 locations.

Russia reports Ukrainian drone attacks

Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems destroyed 203 Ukrainian drones between Saturday evening and Sunday morning over various Russian regions and the Black Sea.

The ministry also claimed that 95 Ukrainian drone control centres were eliminated over the previous 24 hours.

In Russia’s Vologda region, Governor Georgy Filimonov said a Ukrainian drone strike on a nitrogen production facility injured five people.

In Sevastopol, Crimea — annexed by Russia — Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev reported that debris from intercepted drones hit a hospital’s cardiology department, injuring one person. He said 16 Ukrainian drones were shot down over the city overnight.

Razvozhayev added that falling drone fragments also landed on railway tracks, damaging overhead power lines and disrupting train services.

Peace efforts continue

The renewed wave of attacks comes as diplomatic attempts to end the conflict, now in its fourth year, remain at an impasse.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he signed agreements on security and energy cooperation with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during a visit to Baku on Saturday.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine hopes to share its experience in defending airspace against Russian assaults. He also noted that discussions included the possibility of Azerbaijan hosting future negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.

“We are prepared for the next round of talks to take place in Azerbaijan, provided that Russia is ready to pursue diplomacy,” Zelenskyy said.