For the first time since December 2024, Russia did not deploy any long-range attack drones against Ukraine overnight, Ukraine’s air force confirmed on Tuesday. The lack of drone activity marked a significant shift from the usual nightly aerial assaults that have targeted Ukrainian cities in recent months.
Despite the absence of drones, Russian forces did fire two missiles into the Zaporizhzhia region, both of which were successfully intercepted. Additionally, five guided bombs were dropped on frontline settlements in the same region, resulting in one fatality and five injuries.
This pause in drone strikes comes after weeks of large-scale Russian aerial assaults, often involving over 100 drones in a single night. Ukrainian officials remain cautious, emphasizing that the break in attacks does not necessarily indicate a change in strategy.
“There were no strike UAVs,” stated Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Counter-Disinformation Center. “We are closely observing developments, but it is too early to draw conclusions.”
Despite ongoing U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to negotiate a ceasefire, both Ukraine and Russia have continued cross-border drone operations. Last week, all three sides—Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow—agreed to halt strikes on energy infrastructure and the Black Sea. However, both Ukraine and Russia have since accused each other of breaching this agreement.
Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that its forces intercepted three Ukrainian drones over the Bryansk region overnight and claimed that Ukrainian forces had twice targeted energy facilities within the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha accused Russia of attacking an energy facility in Kherson, leaving 45,000 residents without electricity.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently pointed to Russia’s persistent attacks as evidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin has no real interest in a ceasefire or peace negotiations proposed by the U.S.
“The scope and frequency of Russian strikes, happening every day and night, show that Putin disregards diplomacy,” Zelenskyy said in his Sunday address.
Zelenskyy emphasized that despite the U.S. offering an unconditional ceasefire proposal, Russia has responded with continued bombardments, including drones, missiles, and artillery.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at frustration with Moscow’s actions. Over the weekend, he condemned Putin’s latest comments against Zelenskyy and suggested he might impose new sanctions on Russia’s oil exports.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump maintained that his administration was making progress toward ending the conflict. When asked if there was a deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire, he replied, “There is a psychological deadline.”“If I feel like they’re just stalling, I won’t be happy about it,” he added.