In a significant escalation of hostilities, the largest known drone attack launched by Russia since the onset of its full-scale invasion in 2022 has resulted in tragic casualties in Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities reported early on Sunday that a woman lost her life, and at least three others were injured, including a young child, as Moscow intensified its aerial assaults following the inconclusive peace talks held just days prior.

According to Ukraine's air force, the Russian military deployed an astonishing total of 273 drones by 8 AM local time. This extensive strike primarily targeted the central Kyiv region and also impacted the Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions, both located in the eastern part of the country. The air force categorized this as Russia's largest drone attack of the ongoing conflict, surpassing a preceding record of 267 drones launched just before the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion on February 23, 2023.

The backdrop to this escalation includes the first direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in three years, which took place on Friday in Istanbul. Unfortunately, these talks failed to achieve the temporary ceasefire that Kyiv and its allies have been advocating for. The discussion lasted for 100 minutes, concluding with an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war from each side, but did not address the larger issues plaguing the conflict.

US President Donald Trump announced plans to speak with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the following Monday, reflecting the ongoing international concern regarding the situation.

The overnight drone attack not only claimed the life of a 28-year-old woman in the Kyiv region but also left three individuals injured, including a 4-year-old child. Governor Mykola Kalashnik conveyed the heartbreaking news on Telegram, stating, “Unfortunately, as a result of the enemy attack in the Obukhiv district, a woman died from her injuries.”

In the Kyiv area and surrounding regions, residents endured air raid alerts for a harrowing nine hours before the warnings were lifted around 9 AM local time. Ukrainian military reports indicated that their air defense units were actively engaged multiple times during the night in an attempt to intercept the incoming drones.

Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation, described the night as particularly challenging, emphasizing that such attacks are tactics employed by Russia to intimidate Ukraine during negotiations. “The Russians have always used war and attacks to intimidate everyone in negotiations,” he remarked on Telegram.

In a show of resilience, Ukrainian air defense units successfully destroyed 88 of the drones during the assault. However, the attack also saw the use of 128 simulator drones, which were lost without causing damage. The Ukrainian air force confirmed these details in a statement released on Telegram.

This recent assault follows a devastating strike on Saturday, when another Russian drone attack resulted in the deaths of nine civilians after a shuttle bus was hit in the Sumy region, located in northeastern Ukraine. President Zelenskyy condemned this attack as “deliberate” and called for stronger sanctions against Moscow, which claimed it targeted a military facility.

All victims of the drone strike in the Obukhiv district have been hospitalized, as reported by Kalashnik. Additionally, several residential buildings sustained damage from the attacks, raising concerns about the safety of civilians in the area.

The city of Kyiv was also affected, with fragments from a downed drone causing damage to the roof of a non-residential building, according to information from the city’s military administration. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of injuries in this incident.

Witnesses in and around Kyiv reported hearing blasts consistent with air defense operations during the night of the drone assault. As of now, there has been no immediate official response from Russia regarding the attacks.