The Russian Air Force has intensified its strikes on Ukrainian cities, conducting multiple attacks just one day after a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Washington. The talks aimed to explore ways to end the ongoing conflict, yet the violence continued unabated, underscoring the challenges in achieving peace.
According to Ukrainian air defense forces, Russian fighter jets dropped guided bombs on several locations, including Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhya. Initial reports did not provide details on casualties or damage from these strikes. Additionally, Russian drones were detected over Ukraine, specifically targeting Chernihiv and Dnipropetrovsk.
In the northern region of Ukraine, Russian combat drones struck an energy facility in the Koriukivka district, resulting in a power outage that affected approximately 17,000 customers, according to the regional energy supplier. The mayor of Chuhuiv in the eastern Kharkiv region, Halyna Minayeva, reported over ten strikes overnight, paralyzing nearly all districts of the town. Energy restoration efforts are contingent upon assessing the damage from the explosions.
The governor of the Zaporizhzhya region, Ivan Fedorov, confirmed fires stemming from the Russian attacks, noting that no injuries were reported. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force stated that Russia launched its attacks using 164 explosive-laden drones, with 136 being intercepted. The strikes resulted in 27 confirmed hits across 12 locations.
The focus of Russia’s relentless airstrikes remains primarily on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. These attacks are perceived as a strategy to undermine the morale of the civilian population while also exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The recent strikes coincided with Trump and Zelenskiy’s discussions in Washington on March 15, 2024, where Trump urged both nations to cease hostilities, declaring, “Enough blood has been shed.” He expressed this sentiment through a post on his Truth Social platform, advocating for an immediate halt to the fighting.
Despite these calls for peace, both Russia and Ukraine continued their air operations. The Russian Ministry of Defence reported shooting down 41 Ukrainian drones over its territory, including three in the Moscow region. In response to the heightened threat, Rosaviatsiya, the Russian aviation authority, imposed restrictions at nine airports for safety reasons, a recurring measure due to drone activity linked to the conflict.
For more than three and a half years, Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia’s full-scale invasion, supported by Western allies. As part of its defensive strategy, Ukraine has also conducted attacks on Russian targets. Nevertheless, the scale of damage inflicted on Ukraine during these ongoing assaults has been significant, raising questions about the long-term implications for both nations and the region as a whole.
As the conflict continues, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution that could bring an end to the violence and suffering experienced by countless civilians.
