In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Ukraine and Russia exchanged heavy strikes overnight Thursday. Ukrainian drones targeted the Moscow Oil Refinery (MNPZ) for the second time in a week, while Russian ballistic missiles pounded the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. The attacks came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks with US President Donald Trump and European leaders on the sidelines of a G7 meeting in France.

Kyiv's military administration head Tymur Tkachenko reported explosions in the capital and urged residents to take shelter: "The enemy is attacking the capital with ballistic missiles. Stay in safe places until the air raid alert is over!" Authorities in Sumy also confirmed one fatality. This marks the second missile attack on Kyiv this week.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed the drone strike on the refinery, stating that air defense forces shot down around 180 drones heading for the capital, but several reached the facility. Falling debris also caused minor damage to a shopping center on Moscow's outskirts. Russia's aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya, temporarily suspended flights at all major Moscow airports for safety reasons.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted and destroyed 555 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions overnight. The attacks highlight the ongoing intensity of the conflict, now in its fourth year, with both sides seeking tactical advantages.

Zelenskyy described his conversation with Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron as a "coordinating conversation" aimed at ending the war. Trump earlier stated that Russia is losing more soldiers than Ukraine, suggesting both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy may be open to negotiations. However, the Kremlin said Putin did not discuss a potential meeting with Zelenskyy during his latest phone call with Trump.

Source: www.dw.com