TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Russian forces shot down 10 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) headed toward Moscow, according to the city’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin.
While no damage was reported in the capital on Sunday, Ukrainian drone activity sparked a fire at the Azot chemical plant in neighboring Tula region, injuring two people. Additionally, seven drones were intercepted over the Kaluga region.
In response to the incident, Russia's civil aviation agency Rosaviatsia announced the temporary closure of Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports in Moscow, as well as the Kaluga (Grabtsevo) airport, to ensure air safety. All airports have since resumed operations.
The aerial assault coincided with Ukraine’s intensified drone campaign deep into Russian territory over the weekend. The attack reportedly targeted military aircraft at air bases known for housing nuclear-capable systems. In turn, Moscow vowed to retaliate and has carried out a series of strikes in recent days.
On Sunday morning, Russian airstrikes hit multiple locations in Ukraine. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, at least one civilian was killed.
Mykola Lukashuk, head of the regional council, reported that the area had come under attack from drones, artillery, and rocket launchers
"The invaders struck … Synelnykivsky district with a guided aerial bomb. A man was killed. Our sincere condolences to his family," said Lukashuk, as quoted by Al Jazeera. "Five private houses and a kindergarten were also damaged."
He also noted that a business office, four homes, and power lines were damaged in the Nikopol district.
Meanwhile, Russia announced that its ground forces had made their first advance into the Dnipropetrovsk region since the start of the full-scale war three years ago.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that tank units had “reached the western border of the Donetsk People's Republic and continued to advance in the Dnipropetrovsk region,” referencing territory long held by Moscow-backed separatists.
Ukraine has not yet responded to the claim. The region, historically untouched by fighting in the central interior, plays a vital role as a mining and industrial hub. Analysts warn that any Russian breakthrough there could have major consequences for Ukraine’s economy and military efforts.
Before Russia’s invasion in February 2022, Dnipropetrovsk had a population of around three million. Ukrainian forces previously cautioned that Russia could gain ground more easily in the flat terrain of the region, which offers few natural defensive positions.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Russian attacks on villages in the southern regions of Zaporizhia and Kherson left two civilians injured.
Diplomatic efforts to end the war appear to be faltering. The latest talks in Istanbul yielded no progress, and the two sides have exchanged blame over delays in a proposed large-scale prisoner swap—the only substantial outcome of the recent negotiations.
The exchange, initially planned for the end of the week, would have seen more than 1,000 prisoners released from each side.
Moscow accused Kyiv of failing to commit to a date, while Ukraine said Russia was engaging in a “dirty game” by not honoring the agreed terms.
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