Russia Launches Large-Scale Drone Attack on Multiple Ukrainian Regions

Russia conducted a large-scale drone operation using at least 800 drones that targeted about 20 regions of Ukraine on May 13, according to Ukrainian officials. The operation struck areas including the capital Kyiv, the western city of Lviv near the Polish border, the Black Sea port of Odesa and the Transcarpathia region.

It began in midmorning and continued for hours, extending into Thursday morning with additional strikes. Ukrainian officials said the apparent aim was to overload air defenses across a wide area. The strikes hit regions sometimes far from the front lines, a pattern that has intensified in recent weeks.

One neighboring country summoned the Russian ambassador after a drone incident near its border with Ukraine. Officials there condemned the strike on Transcarpathia and pressed for an end to the conflict, marking a shift from that government's previous approach.

Ukrainian officials said six people were killed and dozens wounded, including children. They vowed to maintain both military pressure and diplomatic efforts.

The Russian president said in a speech last weekend that the invasion is possibly coming to an end. A Kremlin spokesperson indicated that Moscow's fundamental terms remain unchanged. Russia continues to insist that Ukrainian troops withdraw from four regions that Moscow annexed in September 2022.

US-led diplomatic efforts over the past year have produced no breakthroughs on core issues, including whether Russia keeps seized Ukrainian territory and what security guarantees could prevent future invasions. Neither leader elaborated on what persuaded them that progress toward peace might be near.