No Signs of Russian Intent for Truce on the Frontlines, Say Ukrainian Forces After Massive Drone Attack
Despite renewed international appeals for a ceasefire, including a 30-day truce, Ukraine's Armed Forces report no indication that Russia is preparing to de-escalate. On the contrary, Russian troops launched one of the largest drone assaults in weeks overnight, targeting multiple regions across the country.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to Ukraine’s Air Force Command, Russian forces deployed a total of 108 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including Iranian-made Shahed-131/135 drones and decoy UAVs. Air defense units managed to intercept 55 of them, while another 30 reportedly failed to reach their targets and were neutralized without causing harm.
The drones were launched from several directions, including occupied Crimea and Russian territory, and aimed at Ukraine’s eastern, northern, southern, and central regions. The Ukrainian military responded with fighter aircraft, air defense missile systems, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire teams.
Strikes were reported in the Odesa, Mykolaiv, Donetsk, and Zhytomyr regions. Among the confirmed damage, a freight train in Donetsk region was hit by a drone, injuring the locomotive driver, according to Ukraine's state railway company, Ukrzaliznytsia.
The overnight drone campaign highlights Russia’s continued aggression and reliance on unmanned aerial systems to pressure Ukraine, even as diplomatic actors push for a temporary halt in hostilities.
As The Gaze reported earlier, to facilitate serious peace talks, it's necessary to increase pressure on Russia, as noted by the new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on May 9 in Brussels after his meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa, while reflecting on his conversation with US President Donald Trump the previous day.