A 12-year-old boy was killed in central Ukraine after Russian drones struck a house, while two women were injured, officials reported, highlighting the continuing human cost of the ongoing conflict.
The attack came as Ukrainian forces reportedly launched long-range drone strikes on a Russian port in Krasnodar and an oil refinery in Syzran, reflecting escalating tensions on both sides of the border.
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U.S. peace efforts continued behind the scenes, with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner scheduled to meet a Ukrainian delegation in Miami, following President Putin’s discussions with U.S. envoys at the Kremlin.
Despite diplomatic efforts, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Putin for stalling talks and creating pretexts to prolong the war, while European allies emphasized the need for strong security guarantees in any potential settlement.
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Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted 85 Ukrainian drones overnight over Russian regions and Crimea, while Ukrainian authorities reported 137 Russian drones fired during the night, demonstrating the intensity of the ongoing drone warfare.
Officials in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region described the destruction caused by the drone strike, which demolished a house and killed the boy, underscoring the war’s devastating impact on civilians despite diplomatic negotiations.