Ukraine Strikes Five Ships in Sea of Azov
Ukraine has announced that its drone forces struck five ships carrying illegal cargo in the Sea of Azov and coastal waters of Russian-occupied territories. The Ukrainian drone forces commander stated that the vessels were involved in stealing Ukrainian grain, as well as transferring military cargo and fuel.
The strikes occurred a day after Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed face-to-face talks with Vladimir Putin to end the war, an offer the Russian leader rejected while visiting St. Petersburg for an economic forum. Zelensky wrote that Russians had grown weary of Ukrainian drone and missile attacks, petrol shortages, and rising prices resulting from the war, now in its fifth year.
Ukraine has repeatedly targeted military and energy infrastructure within Russia to limit its war-fighting capability. Putin's appearance in St. Petersburg came a day after Kyiv launched a drone attack on the city's outskirts.
Azerbaijan Confirms Citizens Killed
Azerbaijan's foreign ministry confirmed that five of its citizens were killed in attacks on two vessels in the Sea of Azov. It did not specify who was behind the attacks and noted that the ships did not belong to Azerbaijan.
Earlier, Robert Brovdi, Ukraine's drone commander, announced that five illegally loitering vessels were struck overnight in the ports of Mariupol, Berdyansk, and coastal waters of what Ukraine calls temporarily occupied territories. He said the ships' names were painted over and their radars turned off to quietly steal Ukrainian grain and transfer military cargo and fuel.
The Azeri foreign ministry named two ships as the Nastra and the Circon. Brovdi did not mention any deaths.
Casualties in Ukraine
In Ukraine, at least 13 people were killed and over 70 injured in the past day, according to local officials. Among them, four people died after Russian drones struck a dairy factory outside Kyiv, and a 35-year-old woman was killed in a drone attack on a petrol station in Kherson.
Naval Drone Explodes in Romania
A Ukrainian naval drone exploded in the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta on Friday. Romania's defense ministry said the drone self-detonated near an oil terminal without causing casualties, though it caused considerable damage to a ship and warehouses. Constanta's top official said the drone was part of a group of five, with a second one exploding in Ukraine.
Ukraine confirmed one of its naval drones was involved, stating it was knocked off course by Russian electronic interference. Moscow has not commented. The remaining three drones are unaccounted for, but officials said there is no further risk.
Romanian President Nicusor Dan wrote on X that this was the second significant security incident this week, after a stray mine was discovered on a beach near Vama Veche. It also follows a drone hitting a Romanian apartment block in Galati last week, which Romanian officials confirmed was a Russian drone, though Moscow called the accusations unsubstantiated.
Zelensky's Peace Offer Rejected
Zelensky told Putin in an open letter that it would be wrong to simply wait until the war in Europe becomes the focus of US attention again, adding peace could only come through direct engagement. He called for a full ceasefire during proposed negotiations, something Putin ruled out earlier.
The Kremlin confirmed receiving the letter. Putin said he sees no reason to meet Zelensky, reiterating that Ukraine should withdraw from four regions largely occupied by Russia—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia—and give up its NATO aspirations. Ukraine has ruled out ceding territory, arguing it would embolden Russia to invade again.
The EU, France, and the US have backed Zelensky's call for a meeting.
