News
Russia Launches Over 900 Drone Strikes on Ukraine in Three Days Amid Stalled Peace Efforts
Russia Launches Over 900 Drone Strikes on Ukraine in Three Days Amid Stalled Peace Efforts
Kyiv, Ukraine — In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Russian forces launched more than 900 attack drones on Ukrainian territory over the past three days, accompanied by a series of ballistic and cruise missile strikes, Ukrainian officials reported. The intensity and scale of the assault mark one of the most aggressive short-term barrages since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
Ukrainian authorities and military analysts argue that the latest wave of attacks serves little strategic military purpose and instead reflects a deliberate political decision by Moscow to sustain and escalate the war.
“There is no military logic in this — it’s a clear political choice to keep waging war,” a senior Ukrainian official said on Sunday, emphasizing the disconnect between the attacks and any rational military objective. “This is not about achieving battlefield goals. It’s about intimidation, destruction, and demonstrating contempt for peace.”
The renewed violence comes as diplomatic developments unfold behind the scenes. A recent meeting in Istanbul brought together representatives for preliminary discussions, during which Russia was said to be drafting proposals for a peace memorandum. However, more than a week has passed with no formal proposal presented, and no signs of de-escalation on the ground.
“Russia’s behavior during this period is not consistent with genuine negotiations,” the official added. “While they talk about peace in one room, they continue launching deadly strikes from another. This is not diplomacy — it’s a diagnosis.”
According to Ukrainian sources, the Russian military is not only continuing its strikes but also preparing for potential new offensives. Civilian infrastructure in multiple regions, including Odesa, Kharkiv, and Dnipro, has been hit in recent days, leading to significant power outages, civilian casualties, and mass displacement.
In response, Ukrainian leaders are calling for a new wave of international sanctions against the Kremlin. They are urging the United States, European Union, and allied nations to adopt stronger, coordinated measures aimed at cutting off resources that fuel Russia’s war machine.
“New and strong sanctions from the U.S., from Europe, and from all nations who support peace must be enacted,” the official said. “Only sustained international pressure can force Russia not just to stop firing, but to start respecting international norms.”
President Vladimir Putin, critics argue, continues to exploit diplomatic processes as a smokescreen, using the appearance of engagement to stall for time while escalating military aggression. Western officials have also expressed skepticism over the sincerity of Moscow’s recent diplomatic overtures.
“Putin must begin to show respect — not just for the people he claims to negotiate with, but for the rules-based international order itself,” said the Ukrainian official. “Right now, he is merely playing games with diplomacy and with diplomats. That must change.”
As Ukraine braces for further assaults, international attention is once again shifting toward the effectiveness of current sanctions and the broader question of how the global community will respond to Russia’s ongoing defiance of peace efforts.
News
Court, Congress Pile Pressure on DHS Over Minnesota Operations
Court, Congress Pile Pressure on DHS Over Minnesota Operations
US House Democrats have threatened to begin impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over her handling of the immigration crackdown in Minnesota, unless President Donald Trump removes her from office.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries warned that Democrats could proceed “the easy way or the hard way,” describing the actions of Noem’s department as “disgusting.”
The crisis follows the fatal shooting of US citizen Alex Pretti by a federal agent, which has triggered backlash in Minneapolis and led to the planned departure of Border Patrol Chief Gregory Borvino and some agents from the city.
Trump has deployed his “border tsar,” Tom Homan, to take charge of on-the-ground operations, while a Minnesota judge has ordered acting ICE director Todd Lyons to appear in court over alleged violations of court orders.
Trump has distanced himself from claims by senior adviser Stephen Miller that Pretti was a “would-be assassin,” saying he did not believe the victim was acting as one.
Video footage shows Pretti holding a phone while filming agents, not a gun, although police say he was a legal firearm owner.
News
UN Raises Alarm Over ‘Spare No-One’ Rhetoric by South Sudan Army Chief
UN Raises Alarm Over ‘Spare No-One’ Rhetoric by South Sudan Army Chief
The United Nations has expressed concern after South Sudan’s Deputy Army Chief, Gen. Johnson Oluny, was heard urging troops to “spare no-one,” including children and the elderly, ahead of military operations in opposition-held areas of Jonglei State.
In a video posted on Facebook, Oluny, addressing members of his Agwelek militia, called for total destruction during the deployment.
The UN Mission in South Sudan condemned the remarks, describing them as “utterly abhorrent,” and warned that inflammatory rhetoric targeting civilians must stop immediately.
South Sudan’s government, however, said the statement did not amount to an official order, insisting it remains committed to protecting civilians.
Minister of Information Ateny Wek Ateny said civilians were being warned only to avoid being caught in crossfire.
The development comes amid escalating fighting in Jonglei, where forces loyal to suspended Vice-President Riek Machar have seized several areas.
The military has ordered civilians, UN personnel and aid workers to evacuate three counties—Nyirol, Uror and Akobo—ahead of an imminent operation.
The UN says more than 180,000 people have been displaced by the renewed violence.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high as opposition forces threaten to advance towards the capital, Juba, a claim dismissed by the army.
South Sudan has been unstable since a 2018 peace deal ended a five-year civil war that killed nearly 400,000 people, but lingering political rivalry and ethnic tensions continue to threaten fragile peace.
Diplomacy
Rwanda sues UK over scrapped migrant deal payments
Rwanda sues UK over scrapped migrant deal payments
The Rwandan government has initiated arbitration proceedings against the United Kingdom, seeking payments it says are owed under the now-abandoned asylum partnership agreement between both countries.
Rwanda has filed the case at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, arguing that the UK failed to honour financial commitments contained in the deal signed under the former Conservative government.
The agreement, designed to relocate some asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda, was scrapped in 2024 by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, with the Home Office saying about £220m in future payments would no longer be made.
UK authorities insist the policy was costly and ineffective, pledging to defend the case to protect taxpayers’ funds.
Rwanda, however, says the arbitration concerns unmet treaty obligations and is seeking a legal determination of both parties’ rights under international law.
The PCA lists the case as pending, with no timetable yet announced for hearings or a ruling.
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