Russia-Ukraine War Live Updates: Massive Missile Barrage Strikes Kyiv Amid Critical Counteroffensive

Updated Front Lines: Russia–Ukraine Conflict Sees Record Drone Strikes, Shifting Diplomacy Introduction Russia’s overnight drone campaign and evolving diplomatic overtures are reshaping the battlefield and the negotiating table in the 1,188-day-old war. Russia Launches Another Mass Shahed Drone Barrage • Ukrainian air defense says 60 Iranian-designed Shahed drones were fired in the early hours, injuring civilians in Odesa and Zaporizhzhia regions. • The salvo follows a record 355-drone onslaught two nights earlier, signaling Moscow’s renewed focus on exhausting Kyiv’s interceptor stockpiles. Kyiv Gains Green Light for Long-Range Strikes Inside Russia • Germany, Canada, and several Nordic allies have lifted restrictions on Ukrainian use of Western-supplied missiles against military targets across the border. • Analysts say the decision could pressure Russia’s Belgorod and Kursk logistics hubs, potentially slowing future offensives toward Kharkiv. Putin Meets Turkish Foreign Minister as Ankara Tests Mediator Role • President Vladimir Putin discussed a draft “peace memorandum” with Turkey’s Hakan Fidan, focusing on security guarantees and grain-corridor revival. • Diplomatic sources caution that Moscow still insists on Kyiv’s “neutrality,” a red line Ukraine rejects. Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Quietly Rewired Toward Russia • Satellite imagery reviewed by nuclear experts shows new high-voltage lines connecting the occupied Zaporizhzhia plant to Russia’s Rostov grid. • Ukrainian officials warn that diverting power could destabilize the national grid just as peak summer demand begins. Kremlin Reacts to Western Political Rhetoric • Moscow dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticism of Vladimir Putin as “emotional overload,” while reiterating that sanctions debate in Washington will not alter its “strategic aims”. • Russian lawmakers are drafting a counter-sanctions bill targeting U.S. tech exports and rare-earth metals. Humanitarian Snapshot • UN figures show 9.6 million Ukrainians remain displaced; 3.4 million are in EU member states. • Kharkiv’s city council has extended its overnight metro-shelter program as drone alerts average four per night this month. What to Watch Next 1. Ukraine’s first confirmed long-range HIMARS strike on Russian soil. 2. Possible Turkish-brokered prisoner swap before the July NATO summit. 3. EU debate on a €50 billion Ukraine Facility to back reconstruction and air-defense procurement. SEO Keywords: Russia Ukraine war, drone attack, Shahed drones, long-range missiles, Kharkiv offensive, Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Putin peace talks, Turkey mediator, NATO summit, sanctions on Russia.