Ukraine launched a wave of drone strikes on Russia on Sunday, sparking a fire at a nuclear power plant as the country marked Independence Day against the backdrop of fading hopes for peace talks.
Recent diplomatic efforts, including US President Donald Trump’s push for a summit between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, stalled after Moscow rejected the proposal for an immediate meeting. The war, now in its third and a half year and claiming tens of thousands of lives, remains at a stalemate despite Russia’s recent gains in eastern Donetsk, where two villages were captured last week.
Ukraine retaliated with drone attacks deep inside Russian territory, including one strike on the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. Authorities confirmed the explosion caused a fire but reported no casualties or rise in radiation levels. The International Atomic Energy Agency has consistently warned of the risks of fighting near nuclear facilities since Russia’s invasion began in 2022.
Elsewhere, Russian officials said drones were intercepted over Saint Petersburg and the port of Ust-Luga, where a strike ignited a blaze at a Novatek fuel terminal. Ukraine has increasingly turned to drones to hit Russian oil infrastructure, a strategy aimed at undermining Moscow’s war funding. Russia has since faced soaring fuel prices.
Meanwhile, Ukraine reported it had downed 48 of 72 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by Russia overnight, though a Russian strike killed a 47-year-old woman in Dnipropetrovsk.
Speaking on Independence Day, Zelensky declared: “This is how Ukraine strikes when its calls for peace are ignored. Today, both the US and Europe agree: Ukraine has not yet fully won, but it will certainly not lose. Ukraine has secured its independence. Ukraine is not a victim; it is a fighter.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney joined the commemorations in Kyiv, calling for “a just and lasting peace for Ukraine,” while world leaders including Trump, Xi Jinping, King Charles, and the Pope sent messages of support.
Russia currently controls about a fifth of Ukraine, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. Despite international calls for a ceasefire, Moscow continues to reject demands for an unconditional halt to hostilities.
What you should know
The latest escalation highlights Ukraine’s heavy reliance on drones as Russia maintains its offensive.
While peace talks remain stalled, Zelensky used Independence Day to reinforce Ukraine’s resilience and defiance, underscoring its determination to fight on despite Russia’s territorial gains and continued attacks.
