Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine seem unlikely to bear fruit. Both sides presented their conditions for peace in Istanbul on Monday, conditions that the other finds unacceptable. Meanwhile, drone and missile attacks continue to be a daily occurrence. Early this morning, Russian drone attacks caused the death of one person in the northeastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv, two in Sumy, and injuries to several others in the northern city of Chernihiv.
In Turkey, Moscow stated on Monday that they would only accept an end to the war if Kiev cedes large swathes of territory and accepts limits on the size of its army, conditions that Ukraine has repeatedly rejected as equivalent to surrender.
Additionally, the surgical strike by Ukraine on Russian territory, where Kiev claims to have destroyed 41 aircraft, mainly long-range strategic bombers Tu-95 and Tu-22, Soviet-era planes used to launch cruise missiles against Ukraine, remains fresh in memory.
Russia and the UN Exchange Views on Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine
The United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Thomas Fletcher, discussed the situation in the Middle East and Ukraine with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow, as reported by Russian diplomacy today, according to Efe.
"During the conversation, a detailed exchange of views took place on the most acute crises, including the Middle East region with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Syria, and Lebanon. Special attention was paid to the conflict around Ukraine," Foreign Affairs stated in a press release on its official portal.
At the meeting held the previous day, Moscow called for "depoliticizing UN humanitarian efforts" in the context of the conflicts mentioned.
Four Russians Sentenced to Between 15 and 29 Years in Prison for Terrorism at Ukraine's Behest
Four Russian citizens have been sentenced to between 15 and 29 years in prison for setting fire to military and transportation infrastructure at the behest of Ukrainian secret services, reported the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) on Tuesday, according to Efe.
"The FSB, in collaboration with the Investigative Committee, halted the activities of residents from the regions of the Republic of Komi, Sverdlovsk, Kirov, and Ryazan, all Russian citizens (...) who set fire to military facilities and transportation infrastructure, as well as made terrorist and extremist appeals on the internet," the Russian security services announced.
The respective military courts found them guilty of various crimes related to terrorism, spreading false information about the Russian Army, and illegal transportation of explosive devices.
Russia Claims Its Troops Captured Andriivka in the Sumy Region of Ukraine
The Russian army claimed on Tuesday to have captured a new village in the Sumy region, northeast of Ukraine and bordering Russia. Kiev fears a major offensive, while Moscow claims it aims to establish a security zone there to prevent incursions into its territory, reported Afp.
In a statement, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that its troops had "liberated" Andriivka, a locality located about 5 km south of the Russian border and about 25 km north of the regional capital of Sumy.
Zelensky Accuses Russia of "Intentional" Deadly Attack on Civilians in Sumy
The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, accused Russia of an "intentional" attack on civilians that resulted in the death of at least three people and injuries to another 20 in Sumy, northeast of the country, the day after the new and unsuccessful Russian-Ukrainian talks.
"So far, the death of three people has been confirmed," lamented Zelensky on social media. "This is a deliberate (Russian) attack on civilians," he added, stating that "without international pressure, without significant measures from the United States, Europe, and all those in power in the world, (Vladimir) Putin will not accept a ceasefire."
Two Dead and Nearly 20 Injured in a Russian Attack on Sumy
Two people died and nearly 20 were injured on Tuesday in a Russian attack on Sumy, in northeastern Ukraine, where Kiev fears a new large-scale attack by Russian troops, reported Afp.
He added that Sumy was attacked "around 9 in the morning" by five Russian rockets, which damaged "a medical center, cars, and homes."
Medvedev States Russia Seeks Victory, Not an Agreement in Istanbul Talks
The Russian security official, Dmitry Medvedev, declared on Tuesday that the goal of peace talks with Ukraine was to ensure a quick and complete Russian victory, reported Reuters.
Night Drone Attacks on Russia Reduced
Russian anti-aircraft defenses shot down eight Ukrainian drones last night, compared to over a hundred the previous day, as reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense today, according to Efe.
The enemy aircraft were destroyed in the border regions of Belgorod and Kursk, as well as over the Sea of Azov and the annexed Crimean peninsula.