Ukrainian drone hits plant deep inside Russia
Both sides in the more than three-year war following Russia's February 2022 invasion of its neighbour have raced to improve drone technology and enhance their use on the battlefield.
They have deployed increasingly sophisticated and deadlier drones, turning the war into a testing ground for the new weaponry.
Ukraine is under severe strain from a Russian push at places on the 1000km front line, but analysts say its defences are largely holding firm.
With recent direct peace talks delivering no progress on US-led international efforts to halt the fighting, Russia and Ukraine are bulking up their arsenals.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone hit an industrial plant in Izhevsk, about 1000km east of Moscow, injuring several people and starting a fire, Alexander Brechalov, head of the Udmurtia region, said.
The plant's workers were evacuated, he said.
The drone struck the Kupol Electromechanical Plant, which produces air defence systems and drones for the Russian military, according to an official with Ukraine's Security Service, the SBU.
At least two direct hits were recorded on the plant's buildings, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly.
Ukraine has for months been using domestically produced long-range drones to strike plants, storage sites and logistical hubs deep inside Russian territory.
In May 2024, a Ukrainian drone hit an early-warning radar in the Russian city of Orsk, some 1800km from the Ukrainian border, Kyiv officials claimed.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine's domestic production of drones was about to increase in response to Russia's expanded barrages.
"The priority is drones, interceptor drones and long-range strike drones," he said on Telegram late on Monday.
"This is extremely important," he said. "Russia is investing in its unmanned capabilities, Russia is planning to increase the number of drones used in strikes against our state. We are preparing our countermeasures."
Russia's defence ministry said 60 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight over several regions, including 17 over Crimea, 16 over the Rostov region and four over the Saratov region.
At the same time, four Russian Shahed drones struck the southern Ukraine city of Zaporizhzia during the night, leaving more than 1600 households without power, according to authorities.
US President Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired lieutenant general Keith Kellogg, rebuked Russia for continuing to strike civilian areas of Ukraine while effectively rejecting a ceasefire and dragging its feet on a peace settlement.
"We urge an immediate ceasefire and a move to trilateral talks to end the war," Kellogg said on the social platform X late Monday.
"Russia cannot continue to stall for time while it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine."
Ukraine is developing its own defence industry as uncertainty remains over whether the Trump administration will continue to provide crucial military aid.
Between March and April, the United States allocated no new aid to Ukraine, according to Germany's Kiel Institute, which tracks such support.
Europe its support and for the first time since June 2022 surpassed the US in total military aid, totalling 72 billion euros ($A129 billion) compared with 65 billion euros from the US, the institute said in June.
A Ukrainian drone has struck a Russian industrial plant some 1300km from Ukraine, a local official says, after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy prioritised the weapon's development and Russia pounded Ukraine with a monthly record of drones in June.
Both sides in the more than three-year war following Russia's February 2022 invasion of its neighbour have raced to improve drone technology and enhance their use on the battlefield.
They have deployed increasingly sophisticated and deadlier drones, turning the war into a testing ground for the new weaponry.
Ukraine is under severe strain from a Russian push at places on the 1000km front line, but analysts say its defences are largely holding firm.
With recent direct peace talks delivering no progress on US-led international efforts to halt the fighting, Russia and Ukraine are bulking up their arsenals.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone hit an industrial plant in Izhevsk, about 1000km east of Moscow, injuring several people and starting a fire, Alexander Brechalov, head of the Udmurtia region, said.
The plant's workers were evacuated, he said.
The drone struck the Kupol Electromechanical Plant, which produces air defence systems and drones for the Russian military, according to an official with Ukraine's Security Service, the SBU.
At least two direct hits were recorded on the plant's buildings, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly.
Ukraine has for months been using domestically produced long-range drones to strike plants, storage sites and logistical hubs deep inside Russian territory.
In May 2024, a Ukrainian drone hit an early-warning radar in the Russian city of Orsk, some 1800km from the Ukrainian border, Kyiv officials claimed.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine's domestic production of drones was about to increase in response to Russia's expanded barrages.
"The priority is drones, interceptor drones and long-range strike drones," he said on Telegram late on Monday.
"This is extremely important," he said. "Russia is investing in its unmanned capabilities, Russia is planning to increase the number of drones used in strikes against our state. We are preparing our countermeasures."
Russia's defence ministry said 60 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight over several regions, including 17 over Crimea, 16 over the Rostov region and four over the Saratov region.
At the same time, four Russian Shahed drones struck the southern Ukraine city of Zaporizhzia during the night, leaving more than 1600 households without power, according to authorities.
US President Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired lieutenant general Keith Kellogg, rebuked Russia for continuing to strike civilian areas of Ukraine while effectively rejecting a ceasefire and dragging its feet on a peace settlement.
"We urge an immediate ceasefire and a move to trilateral talks to end the war," Kellogg said on the social platform X late Monday.
"Russia cannot continue to stall for time while it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine."
Ukraine is developing its own defence industry as uncertainty remains over whether the Trump administration will continue to provide crucial military aid.
Between March and April, the United States allocated no new aid to Ukraine, according to Germany's Kiel Institute, which tracks such support.
Europe its support and for the first time since June 2022 surpassed the US in total military aid, totalling 72 billion euros ($A129 billion) compared with 65 billion euros from the US, the institute said in June.
A Ukrainian drone has struck a Russian industrial plant some 1300km from Ukraine, a local official says, after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy prioritised the weapon's development and Russia pounded Ukraine with a monthly record of drones in June.
Both sides in the more than three-year war following Russia's February 2022 invasion of its neighbour have raced to improve drone technology and enhance their use on the battlefield.
They have deployed increasingly sophisticated and deadlier drones, turning the war into a testing ground for the new weaponry.
Ukraine is under severe strain from a Russian push at places on the 1000km front line, but analysts say its defences are largely holding firm.
With recent direct peace talks delivering no progress on US-led international efforts to halt the fighting, Russia and Ukraine are bulking up their arsenals.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone hit an industrial plant in Izhevsk, about 1000km east of Moscow, injuring several people and starting a fire, Alexander Brechalov, head of the Udmurtia region, said.
The plant's workers were evacuated, he said.
The drone struck the Kupol Electromechanical Plant, which produces air defence systems and drones for the Russian military, according to an official with Ukraine's Security Service, the SBU.
At least two direct hits were recorded on the plant's buildings, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly.
Ukraine has for months been using domestically produced long-range drones to strike plants, storage sites and logistical hubs deep inside Russian territory.
In May 2024, a Ukrainian drone hit an early-warning radar in the Russian city of Orsk, some 1800km from the Ukrainian border, Kyiv officials claimed.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine's domestic production of drones was about to increase in response to Russia's expanded barrages.
"The priority is drones, interceptor drones and long-range strike drones," he said on Telegram late on Monday.
"This is extremely important," he said. "Russia is investing in its unmanned capabilities, Russia is planning to increase the number of drones used in strikes against our state. We are preparing our countermeasures."
Russia's defence ministry said 60 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight over several regions, including 17 over Crimea, 16 over the Rostov region and four over the Saratov region.
At the same time, four Russian Shahed drones struck the southern Ukraine city of Zaporizhzia during the night, leaving more than 1600 households without power, according to authorities.
US President Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired lieutenant general Keith Kellogg, rebuked Russia for continuing to strike civilian areas of Ukraine while effectively rejecting a ceasefire and dragging its feet on a peace settlement.
"We urge an immediate ceasefire and a move to trilateral talks to end the war," Kellogg said on the social platform X late Monday.
"Russia cannot continue to stall for time while it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine."
Ukraine is developing its own defence industry as uncertainty remains over whether the Trump administration will continue to provide crucial military aid.
Between March and April, the United States allocated no new aid to Ukraine, according to Germany's Kiel Institute, which tracks such support.
Europe its support and for the first time since June 2022 surpassed the US in total military aid, totalling 72 billion euros ($A129 billion) compared with 65 billion euros from the US, the institute said in June.
A Ukrainian drone has struck a Russian industrial plant some 1300km from Ukraine, a local official says, after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy prioritised the weapon's development and Russia pounded Ukraine with a monthly record of drones in June.
Both sides in the more than three-year war following Russia's February 2022 invasion of its neighbour have raced to improve drone technology and enhance their use on the battlefield.
They have deployed increasingly sophisticated and deadlier drones, turning the war into a testing ground for the new weaponry.
Ukraine is under severe strain from a Russian push at places on the 1000km front line, but analysts say its defences are largely holding firm.
With recent direct peace talks delivering no progress on US-led international efforts to halt the fighting, Russia and Ukraine are bulking up their arsenals.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone hit an industrial plant in Izhevsk, about 1000km east of Moscow, injuring several people and starting a fire, Alexander Brechalov, head of the Udmurtia region, said.
The plant's workers were evacuated, he said.
The drone struck the Kupol Electromechanical Plant, which produces air defence systems and drones for the Russian military, according to an official with Ukraine's Security Service, the SBU.
At least two direct hits were recorded on the plant's buildings, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly.
Ukraine has for months been using domestically produced long-range drones to strike plants, storage sites and logistical hubs deep inside Russian territory.
In May 2024, a Ukrainian drone hit an early-warning radar in the Russian city of Orsk, some 1800km from the Ukrainian border, Kyiv officials claimed.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine's domestic production of drones was about to increase in response to Russia's expanded barrages.
"The priority is drones, interceptor drones and long-range strike drones," he said on Telegram late on Monday.
"This is extremely important," he said. "Russia is investing in its unmanned capabilities, Russia is planning to increase the number of drones used in strikes against our state. We are preparing our countermeasures."
Russia's defence ministry said 60 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight over several regions, including 17 over Crimea, 16 over the Rostov region and four over the Saratov region.
At the same time, four Russian Shahed drones struck the southern Ukraine city of Zaporizhzia during the night, leaving more than 1600 households without power, according to authorities.
US President Donald Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired lieutenant general Keith Kellogg, rebuked Russia for continuing to strike civilian areas of Ukraine while effectively rejecting a ceasefire and dragging its feet on a peace settlement.
"We urge an immediate ceasefire and a move to trilateral talks to end the war," Kellogg said on the social platform X late Monday.
"Russia cannot continue to stall for time while it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine."
Ukraine is developing its own defence industry as uncertainty remains over whether the Trump administration will continue to provide crucial military aid.
Between March and April, the United States allocated no new aid to Ukraine, according to Germany's Kiel Institute, which tracks such support.
Europe its support and for the first time since June 2022 surpassed the US in total military aid, totalling 72 billion euros ($A129 billion) compared with 65 billion euros from the US, the institute said in June.
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There has been an escalation in violence in the enclave as efforts continue to reach a ceasefire agreement. The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Gaza's health ministry says Israel's retaliatory military assault on the enclave has killed over 57,000 Palestinians. It has also caused a hunger crisis, displaced Gaza's entire population internally and prompted accusations of genocide and war crimes. Israel denies the accusations. Israel will send a delegation to Qatar for talks on a possible Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office says the changes requested by Hamas to a ceasefire proposal are unacceptable. 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Netanyahu, who is due to meet Trump in Washington on Monday, has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a position the militant group, which is thought to be holding 20 living hostages, has so far refused to discuss. Meanwhile, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says two US aid workers have suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a grenade attack at a food distribution site in the Gaza Strip. The US and Israeli-backed GHF said in a statement that the injured workers were receiving medical treatment and were in a stable condition. "The attack - which preliminary information indicates was carried out by two assailants who threw two grenades at the Americans - occurred at the conclusion of an otherwise successful distribution in which thousands of Gazans safely received food," the GHF said. The GHF, which began distributing aid in the Gaza Strip in May, employs private US military contractors tasked with providing security at their sites. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack. The Israeli military, in a later statement, accused what it called "terrorist organisations" of sabotaging the distribution of aid in the Gaza Strip. There has been an escalation in violence in the enclave as efforts continue to reach a ceasefire agreement. The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Gaza's health ministry says Israel's retaliatory military assault on the enclave has killed over 57,000 Palestinians. It has also caused a hunger crisis, displaced Gaza's entire population internally and prompted accusations of genocide and war crimes. Israel denies the accusations. Israel will send a delegation to Qatar for talks on a possible Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office says the changes requested by Hamas to a ceasefire proposal are unacceptable. Palestinian group Hamas said on Friday it had responded to a US-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal in a "positive spirit", a few days after US President Donald Trump said Israel had agreed "to the necessary conditions to finalise" a 60-day truce. But in a sign of the potential challenges still facing the two sides, a Palestinian official from a militant group allied with Hamas said concerns remained over humanitarian aid, passage through the Rafah crossing in southern Israel to Egypt and clarity over a timetable for Israeli troop withdrawals. "The changes that Hamas seeks to make to the Qatari proposal were conveyed to us last night and are not acceptable to Israel," Netanyahu's office said in a statement late on Saturday. The prime minister's office added that the delegation will still fly to Qatar on Sunday for talks over a possible deal to "continue the efforts to secure the return of our hostages based on the Qatari proposal that Israel agreed to". Netanyahu, who is due to meet Trump in Washington on Monday, has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a position the militant group, which is thought to be holding 20 living hostages, has so far refused to discuss. Meanwhile, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says two US aid workers have suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a grenade attack at a food distribution site in the Gaza Strip. The US and Israeli-backed GHF said in a statement that the injured workers were receiving medical treatment and were in a stable condition. "The attack - which preliminary information indicates was carried out by two assailants who threw two grenades at the Americans - occurred at the conclusion of an otherwise successful distribution in which thousands of Gazans safely received food," the GHF said. The GHF, which began distributing aid in the Gaza Strip in May, employs private US military contractors tasked with providing security at their sites. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack. The Israeli military, in a later statement, accused what it called "terrorist organisations" of sabotaging the distribution of aid in the Gaza Strip. There has been an escalation in violence in the enclave as efforts continue to reach a ceasefire agreement. The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Gaza's health ministry says Israel's retaliatory military assault on the enclave has killed over 57,000 Palestinians. It has also caused a hunger crisis, displaced Gaza's entire population internally and prompted accusations of genocide and war crimes. Israel denies the accusations.
