…Russia Claims 112 Drones Downed Overnight.
RUSSIA – The iNews Times reports that a wave of overnight Ukrainian drone strikes killed at least three people and wounded two others across several Russian regions, regional officials confirmed on Saturday, marking one of the most extensive aerial assaults inside Russia in recent weeks.
In Penza, a drone hit an industrial facility, killing a woman and injuring two others, Governor Oleg Melnichenko said on Telegram. In Samara, falling drone debris sparked a house fire that claimed the life of an elderly man, according to Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev.
Further south, in the Rostov region, a guard was killed after a drone struck an industrial site and ignited a fire, acting Governor Yuri Sliusar revealed.
“The military repelled a massive air attack during the night,” Sliusar added, noting drones were shot down over seven districts.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence said air defence units intercepted 112 Ukrainian drones between Friday night and Saturday morning, including 34 over Rostov. The nearly nine-hour barrage marks a significant escalation in Ukraine’s campaign to target Russian territory directly.
Meanwhile, across the frontlines, Ukraine also came under attack. Russian drones struck the central-eastern Dnipropetrovsk region overnight, injuring three people and damaging multiple homes, vehicles, and buildings, Governor Sergiy Lysak reported.
The Russian military has recently claimed territorial gains in Dnipropetrovsk, including the capture of two villages. However, Kyiv has dismissed the assertion, insisting there are no Russian forces present in the region. The contrasting reports come as both sides trade fire and narratives on the state of the war.
Despite the escalating conflict, President Vladimir Putin continues to hold firm on his demands for any peace settlement. On Friday, he reiterated that Moscow’s conditions, including Ukraine relinquishing occupied territories and abandoning its NATO ambitions–remain unchanged.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on the other hand, renewed his call for direct talks with Putin, insisting only the Russian leader can bring an end to the war. “The United States has proposed this. Ukraine has supported it. What is needed is Russia’s readiness,” Zelensky wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
As the war enters its fourth year, both battlefield developments and diplomatic overtures appear locked in stalemate, even as casualties continue to mount on both sides.
