Ukraine and Russia trade Black Sea attacks after peace talks stall

Kyiv: Ukraine and Russia launched a fresh wave of air attacks along the Black Sea coastline on Thursday, just hours after direct peace talks between the two nations ended without any breakthrough on a ceasefire agreement.

The Russian military targeted the Ukrainian port city of Odesa with mass drone strikes overnight, injuring at least four people and sparking several fires. The attack caused significant damage to Odesa’s historic centre, which is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city’s iconic Pryvoz market was also hit—an area regional governor Oleh Kiper called “the living heart of Odesa.”

By early Thursday morning, Ukrainian residents were seen clearing debris from the streets. “So what if the drones are flying? We will shoot them down; they will not break us,” said 20-year-old student Yevhen, who joined local cleanup efforts.

Meanwhile, across the border, emergency officials in Russia’s Krasnodar region reported that debris from a Ukrainian drone killed a woman and seriously injured another in Sochi’s Adler district. The drone also struck an oil depot in the Sirius federal district, briefly suspending operations at Sochi Airport for approximately four hours.

Further inland, Ukrainian officials confirmed that overnight Russian strikes on the Cherkasy region wounded seven civilians, including a nine-year-old child. More than a dozen apartment buildings were damaged in the attack.

The renewed violence came just hours after limited peace negotiations were held in Istanbul. Although both sides discussed the possibility of prisoner exchanges, they remained sharply divided on issues of a broader ceasefire or a high-level summit between national leaders.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks, stating on Telegram:

“Yesterday, at a meeting in Istanbul, the Russian side was again presented with a proposal to immediately and completely cease fire. In response, Russian drones are striking residential buildings.”

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Oleskiy Kuleba said Russia launched 103 drones and four missiles during its overnight assault, targeting civilian infrastructure such as ports, transport hubs, and residential zones.

As Russia’s drone campaign intensifies, Ukraine has retaliated by striking deep into Russian territory, targeting energy infrastructure and military installations far from the front lines. These mutual attacks mark a dangerous escalation in the 29-month-old conflict and cast doubt over the viability of diplomatic talks.

In a separate incident in Kharkiv, Zelenskyy said Russia dropped two aerial bombs on civilian areas, injuring dozens—including children—and causing fires near residential and industrial zones.

“These are utterly senseless strikes with no military purpose whatsoever... That is precisely why we need support in defence – strong air defences, expanded weapons production,” he said.

The recent attacks underscore the continued volatility of the conflict and highlight the increasing vulnerability of civilian populations on both sides, even as efforts for peace remain elusive.