Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday that Ukraine will dispatch a delegation to Istanbul for direct peace talks with Russia on Monday, amid intensifying Russian assaults, including a missile strike that killed 12 Ukrainian soldiers and the largest drone offensive of the ongoing three-year war.
Zelenskyy made the announcement via Telegram, stating that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will lead the Ukrainian team. “We are doing everything possible to safeguard our independence, our country, and our people,” he said.
Ukraine had earlier asked Moscow to share a written outline of its position regarding an end to the conflict before the talks. Russia responded that it would present the memorandum during the negotiations.
Deadly Missile Strike Hits Ukrainian Army Unit
Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 472 drones on Sunday — the most in a single day since the full-scale invasion began. Alongside the drones, seven missiles were also fired, said Yuriy Ignat, a spokesperson for the air force.
A missile strike earlier that day targeted a Ukrainian army training facility, killing at least 12 service members and injuring more than 60 others. The attack occurred around 12:50 p.m. local time, according to the army, which emphasized that no large gatherings of troops were present during the strike. An investigative panel has been set up to determine how such a significant loss occurred.
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The training site is located far from the front lines, which span approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), but remains within reach of Russian drones and missile systems.
With Ukraine facing troop shortages, military units are taking increased precautions to avoid concentrations of personnel that could become targets. The army warned that any negligence or misconduct contributing to the casualties would be met with strict accountability.
Ukrainian Drones Strike Deep Into Russian Territory
Meanwhile, Ukrainian drone attacks were reported in various parts of Russia, including the Siberian region of Irkutsk — more than 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) east of Moscow. Local Governor Igor Kobzeva confirmed the drone’s presence but said it posed no danger to civilians.
Additional drone activity was reported in Russia’s Ryazan and Murmansk regions, though no injuries or deaths were reported.
Escalation in Northern Ukraine
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed on Sunday that its forces had seized control of Oleksiivka, a village in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region. Ukrainian authorities responded by ordering mandatory evacuations in 11 nearby settlements as Russian advances continue.
Ukraine’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Russian troops are concentrating their main offensives in the eastern Donetsk cities of Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and Lyman, as well as near the Sumy border.