**Russian Missile and Drone Attack Brings Destruction to Ukraine**
In a terrifying night, June 29, saw large-scale Russian missile and drone attacks terrorize Ukraine. The assault, which included western regions far from the front lines, was part of an intensifying trend of bombardments that have been a fact of life for three years.
**Air Raid Alarms Sound Across the Country**
As air raid alarms sounded across Ukraine, Russia’s Air Force warned late on June 28 that three Tu-95 bombers had taken off from the Olenya military airfield in Murmansk Oblast. The Air Force also alerted that multiple groups of Russian drones were heading towards various regions.
**Polish Armed Forces Scramble Fighter Jets**
In response to the attacks, the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces said it scrambled fighter jets and activated ground-based air defense units in western Ukraine. This move was a clear indication of the escalating tensions between Russia and NATO allies.
**Explosions and Strikes Reported Across Ukraine**
Explosions and strikes were reported in several regions across Ukraine, including Mikolaiv, Kremenchuk, Zaporizhzhia, Cherkasy Oblast, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv. Some regional officials shared preliminary reports of damage and casualties even as air defense continued to operate in the area.
**Civilian Infrastructure Damaged**
The attacks resulted in significant damage to civilian infrastructure, with at least three people injured in attacks on Cherkasy Oblast. In Kremenchuk, Poltava Oblast, an undisclosed enterprise was hit, causing a fire. A production facility at an unnamed enterprise in Zaporizhzhia was also hit during the overnight missile attack.
**Putin’s Remarks Spark Hope of Peace Talks**
The mass missile and drone attack comes just a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters that Moscow is ready to hold another round of peace talks with Ukraine. However, these talks have yielded little results outside of coordinated prisoner swaps, as Russia refuses to budge on its maximalist ambitions in Ukraine.
**A Grim Reality for Ukraine**
Russia’s relentless attacks have brought destruction and despair to Ukrainian cities and civilians alike. Just this week, a Russian missile struck a passenger train in Dnipro, leaving 21 dead and over 300 wounded. The recent escalation of attacks highlights the dire need for effective diplomacy and international cooperation to end the ongoing conflict.
**A Developing Story**
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available. For now, it’s clear that Ukraine faces an uncertain future in the face of Russia’s aggressive actions.
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