BBC Ukraine correspondent
ReutersRussia has intensified strikes on Ukraine, with the very best variety of drones and missiles launched in a single evening but.
No less than 12 folks, together with three youngsters, have been killed and dozens injured, Ukrainian officers stated.
The assault was the second large-scale assault on the nation in 48 hours, coming a day after the Ukrainian capital Kyiv suffered one of many heaviest assaults because the begin of the Russian invasion.
Saturday’s in a single day strikes come as Russia ignores requires a ceasefire.
Rescuers have been working in additional than 30 cities and villages after the “huge” strike, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in a press release on Sunday morning.
“Russia is dragging out this battle and continues to kill on daily basis,” he stated.
“The world could go on for a weekend, however the battle continues, regardless of weekends and weekdays. This can’t be ignored.”
Ukraine is once more urging its allies to use extra strain on Moscow to interact in a ceasefire.
“With out actually sturdy strain on the Russian management, this cruelty can’t be stopped,” he added, calling for recent sanctions.
Zelensky stated “America’s silence will solely encourage Putin” – an obvious effort to exert strain on US President Donald Trump who has stated the Russian chief is serious about ending the battle.
Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow at the moment controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.
This contains Crimea – Ukraine’s southern peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.
When it comes to the numbers of drones and missiles launched, Saturday evening was the very best but.
Russia is ready not solely to only manufacture them at a quicker fee, however they’re additionally evolving. Shahed drones are actually being full of extra explosives and improved know-how to evade detection.
Ukraine’s Air Power stated that since 20:40 on Saturday native time (17:40 GMT), Russia had carried out strikes utilizing 367 missiles of varied varieties, unmanned aerial autos (UAVs) and drones.
The air drive stated it had shot down 45 cruise missiles and neutralised 266 UAVs, with most areas in Ukraine affected and hits recorded in 22 places.
Deaths have been reported in a number of areas.
Based on Ukraine’s Minister of Inside Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, 13 areas have been attacked, with greater than 70 folks injured, 80 residential buildings broken, and 27 fires recorded.
He known as it a “mixed, ruthless strike geared toward civilians”.
Of the 12 folks killed, three have been youngsters aged eight, 12 and 17 within the Zhytomyr area, Ukraine’s state emergencies service DSNS stated.
Klymenko stated they have been from the identical household and their dad and mom have been in hospital.
Within the Kyiv area, 4 folks have been killed and 16 injured, together with three youngsters, DSNS stated.
In Kyiv, native officers reported 11 accidents, a number of fires and harm to residential buildings, together with a dormitory.
A whole bunch of individuals headed to town’s deep metro stations for shelter. The din of drones stuffed the air, often punctuated by the booms of air defences, or the moments of impression. A number of fires have been reported.
A BBC colleague messaged to say a block of flats had been destroyed, only a 5 minute drive from the place she lived.
The strikes come because the capital marks its annual Kyiv Day vacation.
ReutersIn Russia, the defence ministry stated 110 Ukrainian drones have been destroyed and intercepted over 12 Russian areas and the Crimea peninsula between midnight and 0700 native time.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that 12 drones heading in direction of the capital have been shot down.
He added that emergency companies crews have been deployed to evaluate harm attributable to falling drone particles.
Within the Tula area, simply south of Moscow, drone wreckage crashed within the courtyard of a residential constructing, smashing home windows in a variety of flats, native governor Dmitriy Milyaev stated.
No-one was injured, he added.
Sunday can be the third and closing day of a significant prisoner of battle change between the 2 sides, and after this weekend, there may be even much less hope it’ll result in additional co-operation.
On Friday, Ukraine and Russia every handed over 390 troopers and civilians within the largest prisoner change since Russia launched its full-scale assault in February 2022.
On Saturday, Zelensky introduced that one other 307 Ukrainian prisoners had returned house as a part of an change take care of the Kremlin.
And on Sunday, Ukraine and Russia every confirmed 303 of their troopers had returned house – bringing the whole over the three days to 1,000 prisoners every.
The swap follows the primary face-to-face talks between the 2 sides in three years, which came about in Turkey.
Earlier this week, Trump and Putin had a two-hour telephone name to debate a US-proposed Ukraine ceasefire deal.
Trump stated he believed the decision had gone “very effectively”, and added that Russia and Ukraine will “instantly begin” negotiations towards a ceasefire and “an finish to the battle”.
Nevertheless, Putin has solely stated Russia would work with Ukraine to craft a “memorandum” on a “potential future peace”, and has not accepted a 30-day ceasefire.