Russia Drone Attacks Ukraine; Putin's Calls with Trump and Pope Leo XIV

Russia's Drone Attacks and Escalation

• 💥 Russia conducted an overnight drone attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, injuring 18 people and damaging apartment buildings.
• 🎯 This follows a recent Ukrainian drone operation that targeted military aircraft within Russia, hitting Russian air bases and reportedly taking out over 40 military bombers.

Putin's Diplomatic Engagements

• 📞 President Trump stated that Vladimir Putin informed him via phone about Russia's plan to retaliate against Ukraine's drone strikes.
• 🕊️ Pope Leo XIV reportedly appealed to Putin for actions favoring peace, including prisoner swaps, aid for Ukraine, and the return of abducted Ukrainian children.
• ⚖️ The Vatican acknowledged that the Pope's influence is primarily through moral authority and diplomatic strength.

Battlefield Developments

• 📈 Russian forces are reportedly advancing in Ukraine at their fastest pace this year, according to the Ukrainian online mapping project Deep State.
• 🏢 In Sumy, Russian drones hit a food warehouse, and Ukrainian officials reported at least three deaths and over 30 injuries in the past 24 hours across Sumy and Kharkiv.
• ⚠️ There is a significant fear that the regional capital of Sumy, which is under constant targeting, may soon fall to Russian forces.