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In a significant escalation of cross-border attacks, Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that at least 10 Ukrainian drones were downed as they approached the Russian capital overnight into Sunday. The incident prompted temporary restrictions at two of Moscow’s major airports. Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the impact sites, as per the mayor’s announcement.

According to Russia's Defense Ministry, the drones targeting Moscow were part of a broader offensive involving 67 Ukrainian drones intercepted overnight. Additionally, Dmitry Milyaev, the governor of the Tula region south of Moscow, reported a drone strike on the Azot chemical plant in Novomoskovsk. The attack resulted in a fire caused by falling debris and left two individuals injured.

Meanwhile, Russian forces continued their extensive long-range strikes into Ukraine, with Ukraine’s air force reporting that 49 drones and three missiles were fired into Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian air defense managed to neutralize 40 of these drones.

The exchange of attacks marks an intensifying phase in the ongoing conflict, even as U.S.-mediated peace talks persist in an effort to end Russia's three-year-old invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the urgent need for bolstering Ukraine's air defense systems in light of escalating Russian missile and drone strikes. He called for concrete support from the United States while expressing gratitude to European nations for their defense supplies.

The northeastern city of Kharkiv, situated about 19 miles from the Russian border, suffered significant casualties over the weekend. Local authorities reported that at least three people were killed and 23 others injured in drone strikes, while additional strikes elsewhere in Ukraine resulted in four more fatalities.

Zelenskyy has portrayed Russia's heightened assault on Ukrainian cities as evidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not genuinely committed to peace negotiations. He argued that the recent attacks cannot be justified as mere retaliation and implored Western partners to exert more pressure on Russia to ease its stringent peace terms, which currently appear tantamount to Ukrainian capitulation.

In a historic covert operation last weekend, Ukrainian agents used over 100 drones hidden in large trucks to attack Russian strategic bomber bases, an action celebrated by Ukrainian officials as a notable success. Despite Moscow’s vows for retribution, Zelenskyy maintains that international pressure and sanctions are crucial to pushing Russia towards realistic negotiations and ultimately ending the war.

Zelenskyy stressed that no reduction in pressure on Russia is permissible and reiterated the importance of sanctions, particularly on Russian oil and those engaged in trade with Russia. "This war must end with Russia being compelled into a peaceful resolution," he stated.