Despite claims from Moscow that a peace proposal is being finalized to end the war, both Russia and Ukraine launched major drone attacks against one another overnight. Ukrainian Air Force officials reported on Tuesday that Russia deployed 60 drones across several regions, resulting in injuries to 10 people. Kyiv’s air defenses managed to intercept 43 of them—35 were shot down, and eight were diverted via electronic warfare systems.
In Dnipropetrovsk, central Ukraine, Governor Serhiy Lysak stated that the strikes damaged homes and agricultural facilities, igniting fires. In the southern city of Kherson, a drone attack early Tuesday morning injured a 59-year-old man and six municipal workers. The aerial assault came just days after Ukraine experienced one of the most intense drone barrages of the conflict so far. On Sunday night alone, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched a staggering 355 drones, marking a record high.
The uptick in attacks triggered a sharp response from U.S. President Donald Trump, who labeled Russian President Vladimir Putin as having “gone absolutely CRAZY” and signaled potential new sanctions. The Kremlin dismissed Trump’s comments, accusing him of experiencing an “emotional overload.”
Russia, in turn, justified its recent heavy strikes as retaliation for Ukrainian drone attacks aimed at its civilian areas. “Kyiv, with the support of some European countries, has taken a series of provocative steps to thwart negotiations initiated by Russia,” the Russian Ministry of Defence said. They claimed their forces downed 99 Ukrainian drones on Tuesday, including 56 over Belgorod, and alleged that over 2,300 Ukrainian drones were intercepted between May 20 and May 27—many outside active war zones.
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Territorial Shifts in the Northeast
Photo Credit: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
On the ground, Russia has made new territorial gains. Four villages—Novenke, Basivka, Veselivka, and Zhuravka—in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region have been seized, according to Governor Oleh Hryhorov. Civilians had been evacuated, and he warned that the goal of Russian forces is to create a “buffer zone.”
The Russian Defence Ministry added that it had also taken the nearby village of Bilovody. While Russia’s main operations remain focused in Donetsk, this movement into Sumy signals an attempt to stretch Ukrainian defense lines.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated concerns this week, warning that further Russian offensives are likely in the Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions. Ukrainian troops reported facing Russian fighters on motorcycles supported by drones, though they say they’re holding their positions with precision strikes. According to military blog DeepState, Russia now controls around 62.6 square kilometers (24 square miles) of borderland in the area—a first since the conflict began.
Notably, last month, a Russian missile strike on the city of Sumy killed 36 people, further intensifying fears of escalation in the region.
Blame Game Over Stalled Peace Talks
As violence surges, Russia has blamed European leaders for sabotaging peace efforts. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Putin on Monday and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday to discuss potential paths to end the war. During the meeting, Lavrov took aim at German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for comments suggesting Western nations had long planned to allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons against Russian territory.
Lavrov criticized Merz’s remarks as revealing not only NATO’s intentions but also the mindset of Western governments. Merz had earlier indicated that the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany no longer restrict how Ukraine uses their supplied weapons, implying that attacks deep inside Russia are now permissible.
While in Finland on Tuesday, Merz told reporters the West had lifted those limitations and warned of a protracted conflict. “We may have to prepare for a longer duration,” he said, blaming Russia for stalling serious negotiations.
Moscow responded by accusing Ukraine and its Western allies of launching strikes on civilian infrastructure using foreign weapons, claiming these actions deliberately undermined talks. Russia and Ukraine held direct discussions on May 16, the first in over three years, but no ceasefire emerged. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia is still drafting a serious peace proposal, which remains under internal review.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted the document would outline terms for a political solution and ceasefire, which would be shared with Kyiv upon completion. Meanwhile, Russia continues to allege that Ukraine is escalating attacks to derail the deal while also criticizing the U.S. for planning more sanctions, which Peskov labeled a move to sabotage diplomacy.
Where the World Stands
Several countries have expressed concern over the escalating violence and have issued travel warnings against the United States. These include:
- Russia, citing domestic unrest and unpredictable law enforcement behavior
- Canada, advising travelers to avoid mass gatherings and protest zones
- Venezuela, referencing potential racial and gun violence
- Uruguay, warning of growing hate crimes
- New Zealand advising caution due to sporadic incidents of civil unrest
A Conflict With No Clear End in Sight
Despite Russia’s insistence that a serious peace proposal is underway, its military advances and record-setting drone strikes tell a different story. Ukraine continues to resist across multiple fronts while warning of broader offensives to come. With Western leaders divided on strategy and Russia pointing fingers at Europe, any resolution seems increasingly distant. As long as drone attacks and territorial seizures continue, talk of peace remains overshadowed by the ongoing war.
