Russia launches heavy overnight strikes on western Ukraine

New Delhi, Aug 21: Russia carried out one of its heaviest bombardments in recent weeks overnight, launching more than 600 drones and missiles at targets across Ukraine, reports BBC. Ukrainian officials reported strikes in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Lviv, where at least one person was killed and several others injured. Ukraine’s air force said it intercepted the majority of the aerial vehicles, but some caused significant damage, including at a major American electronics manufacturer in western Ukraine. The attacks included drones as well as hypersonic, ballistic, and cruise missiles.

The escalation comes amid discussions of possible venues for direct peace talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky has suggested Switzerland, Austria, or Turkey, while Hungary has also offered to host.

The United States has floated the possibility of a trilateral summit, following a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin in Alaska and subsequent talks with Zelensky and European leaders in Washington. Ukraine continues to face pressure on multiple fronts, with its military reporting that Russian forces are massing in the Zaporizhzhia region, shifting additional troops from the Kursk direction. Russia claims Zaporizhzhia as one of the territories it has annexed.