
The Latest Escalation
Russia’s defense ministry announced on Wednesday that it destroyed nine Ukrainian drones overnight, including two over the Black Sea. However, details remain unclear—were these drones targeting Black Sea assets, or simply flying overhead?
Meanwhile, the U.S. has stepped in, securing separate deals with Ukraine and Russia to pause attacks over the Black Sea and on energy targets.

In exchange, Washington may lift some sanctions against Moscow. But when will these agreements take effect? That’s still unknown.
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Ukrainian officials have yet to comment on the drone attacks. On the Russian side, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported that a Ukrainian drone strike in the Belgorod region injured a civilian and damaged an apartment building.
The victim suffered head injuries and was hospitalized.
Russia’s defense ministry also claimed five drones were shot down over Belgorod. Notably, Moscow only shares numbers of drones destroyed—not how many were launched or any potential damage caused.
With the U.S. mediating, both sides seem to be testing the waters. Will the Black Sea deals bring lasting calm, or is this just a brief pause in a longer conflict? For now, the skies remain a battleground.
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