433 Drones Struck Ukraine on Final Night of Truce

The localized truce in southeastern Ukraine concluded on Sunday evening, ending the longest period of relative calm between Kyiv and Moscow since the full-scale invasion began nearly five years ago. The pause, which started early Tuesday, was brokered with the assistance of U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, according to the White House.

The ceasefire allowed for a rare joint evacuation of the besieged front-line city of Oleshky. An estimated 2,000 civilians were present when the truce took hold. Residents could choose to move to Ukrainian or Russian controlled territory or stay in the city with replenished supplies. Ukrainian authorities did not release exact figures on who remained after the operation concluded on Saturday.

Despite the local quiet, aerial strikes continued elsewhere. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia targeted Ukraine's energy systems in preparation for winter. He noted that hundreds of thousands of families lost power overnight as Moscow attempted to exploit Ukraine's shortage of air defenses. Zelenskyy described the intensity of the strikes as extremely high on social media, saying Russians were trying to take maximum advantage of the shortage of ballistic missile interceptors.

In Kherson, residents maintained a calm demeanor on the final day of the truce. Oleksandr Knyha, head of the Mykola Kulish Kherson Regional Academic Music and Drama Theater, opened a concert by telling the audience not to be afraid and to keep holding on. The theater, which performs in a basement and is equipping an additional bomb shelter, plans to perform next weekend as usual. Knyha said the company has worked on the front line for four years and has never canceled a performance. He added that the show is not canceled regardless of what happens.

Costume maker Alla Vasylenko, 58, said the silence of the truce still frightened her. She expressed doubt that the situation would change, stating that believing the Russians meant not believing herself. Vasylenko has no plans to leave, citing her ten dogs and the cost of travel. She estimated the trip alone would cost 30,000 to 50,000 hryvnias, or $650 to $1,080. She said there is no certainty the war will end until the left bank is liberated.

Elsewhere, a Russian drone hit the grounds of a vocational school in the Vinnytsia region, killing three people, including a 13-year-old girl. Four others were wounded, including two 5-year-old girls and a 16-year-old boy, according to Ukraine's State Emergency Service. Drone attacks also continued to target the Kyiv region for a second consecutive day, wounding a woman and damaging homes and energy infrastructure.

Ukraine's air force reported that Moscow attacked with 433 drones overnight on Sunday, of which 371 were destroyed or suppressed. In Russia, more than 100 Ukrainian drones were shot down over the Nizhny Novgorod region. Local Governor Gleb Nikitin said an industrial building in the town of Kstovo sustained significant damage. Russian media reported the attack sparked a blaze at the Kstovo oil refinery. Local officials later placed limits on gasoline sales in the region after lines appeared at gas stations, while diesel sales were not affected.

Zelenskyy said Kyiv struck a factory used to make missile components and air defense facilities in Russia's southern Rostov region. He wrote that Ukraine is justly defending itself against Russian aggression and is doing everything to reduce Russia's capability to continue it.