Ukraine marked its Independence Day on Sunday with a series of drone strikes deep inside Russian territory, intensifying hostilities as hopes for renewed peace efforts continue to diminish.
According to reports from Russian state media, one of the strikes triggered a fire at the Kursk nuclear power plant, raising fresh concerns over the safety of critical infrastructure caught in the conflict. Emergency teams were swiftly deployed, and Russian authorities insisted that radiation levels remained within safe limits.
The Ukrainian military did not officially confirm responsibility for the attacks, in line with its usual policy of strategic ambiguity. However, senior officials in Kyiv described the operations as “defensive measures” aimed at disrupting Moscow’s military capabilities.
The strikes coincided with the country’s Independence Day celebrations, a symbolic date marking Ukraine’s separation from the Soviet Union in 1991. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his national address, framed the escalation as part of a broader struggle for sovereignty and survival. “Our independence was not given to us — we earned it, and we continue to defend it every day,” he said.
In Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry condemned the strikes as “terrorist acts” and vowed retaliatory measures. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated that attacks on nuclear facilities represented a “dangerous escalation” with potential consequences beyond the battlefield.
The development comes as international mediators struggle to revive talks aimed at de-escalating the war, now in its third year. Recent diplomatic overtures, including back-channel discussions involving European and Middle Eastern states, have produced little progress.
Analysts note that Ukraine’s decision to mark its Independence Day with offensive strikes underscores Kyiv’s determination to project strength at a time when Western support shows signs of fatigue. “This is both military and symbolic — Ukraine wants to remind the world that it remains capable of striking inside Russia, even as calls for negotiations grow louder,” said one regional security expert.
The incident adds to the mounting pressure on global leaders, particularly within NATO and the United Nations, to address the risks of escalation, especially concerning nuclear safety.
