In a stark contradiction to recent assertions about reviving diplomatic channels, Russia and Ukraine launched a barrage of significant attacks against each other's capitals overnight. Local authorities from both sides reported extensive strikes, underlining the ongoing intensity of the conflict despite renewed mediation efforts.

In Kyiv, early morning missile strikes wounded at least 15 people and hospitalized eight others, according to city officials. The subway infrastructure along the Southern Bridge crossing the Dnipro River also sustained damage. Meanwhile, a separate strike in the Kharkiv region resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to four others, with energy infrastructure in Poltava also reportedly hit.

On the other side, Moscow's mayor claimed that 630 drones were launched toward the region overnight, with air defense systems allegedly intercepting the majority of them. However, in the western Russian city of Lipetsk, drone impacts on residential buildings and a medical facility left at least one person injured.

This latest escalation unfolded shortly after US special envoy Steve Witkoff held discussions with Ukrainian officials in Norway and subsequently met with Russian leadership in St. Petersburg. While the US regime purportedly claimed this brought the sides closer to ending the war than ever before, the relentless cycle of mutual bombardment demonstrates that a durable resolution remains distant.

Source: www.dw.com