KYIV, Feb 23 (BBC): Russia launched the largest single drone attack on Ukraine on Saturday night, officials have said. While many were repelled, emergency services reported drone strikes causing destruction and fires in several regions overnight.
Ukraine's Air Force Command spokesman Yuriy Ignat, said a "record" 267 Russian drones were launched in a single, coordinated attack. Some 138 were intercepted while 119 disappeared after being jammed without causing any damage.
The strikes come on the eve of the third anniversary of the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was the largest drone attack on the country since Russia began using Iranian-made drones.
He said in a statement that this week Russia had launched nearly 1,150 attack drones, more than 1,400 guided aerial bombs and 35 missiles of various types at Ukraine.
"We must do everything possible to bring a lasting and just peace to Ukraine," Zelensky wrote. "This is achievable through the unity of all partners - we need the strength of all of Europe, the strength of America, the strength of everyone who seeks lasting peace."
Meanwhile, a 53-year-old woman was hospitalised after being injured in a drone attack in Zaporizhzhia, and firefighters were called to extinguish multiple fires in the capital, Kyiv.
Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Kltischko wrote on Telegram that the multi-wave drone attacks on the capital had damaged several houses and cars but there were no immediate reports of injuries.
Drones were intercepted in at least 13 regions including Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Mykolayiv and Odesa, according to Ukrainian authorities.
The Ukrainian air force also reported that Russia launched three ballistic missiles overnight. Meanwhile, Russia's defence ministry said on Sunday that 20 Ukrainian drones launched into Russia were "destroyed" overnight.
Ukrainian State Emergency Services A fire service person uses a fire hose to douse the flames on a burning buildingUkrainian State Emergency Services
On Monday, the war will enter its third year. As it does, diplomatic wranglings over a potential peace deal continue, with Ukraine, European allies and the US offering differing visions for how to end the conflict.
The US and Russia held preliminary talks in Saudi Arabia this week - without delegates from Europe, including Ukraine, present - which resulted in European leaders holding a hastily-arranged summit in Paris.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he was trying to get money back for the billions of dollars sent to support Ukraine's war against Russia.
His comments came as Washington and Kyiv negotiate a mineral resources deal Trump wants as compensation for the wartime aid his predecessor Joe Biden gave Ukraine.
It was the latest twist in a whirlwind first month since he took office, during which he has upended US foreign policy by making diplomatic overtures towards the Kremlin over the heads of Ukraine and Europe.
Trump told delegates at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) near Washington: "I'm trying to get the money back, or secured.
"I want them to give us something for all of the money that we put up. We're asking for rare earth and oil, anything we can get.
"We're going to get our money back because it's just not fair. And we will see, but I think we're pretty close to a deal, and we better be close because that has been a horrible situation."
