Russia Gets Slapped By Ukrainian Drones — Now It’s Bombing the Hell Out of Kyiv Positions

Ukrainian drones are tearing up Russian supply lines and radar systems, slowing Moscow’s spring offensive to a crawl. But Vladimir Putin’s forces are hitting back hard with heavy artillery and air strikes, turning the battlefield into a brutal race of attrition: whoever runs out of weapons first loses.

Ukrainian drone operators destroyed two long-range Russian radar systems in Donetsk Oblast — one could spot targets up to 250 kilometers away, the other measured altitude at 300 kilometers [147574]. The tactic is working: drones are depleting Russian forces before they can push forward [147796]. A Ukrainian strike even hit a residential building in Orenburg, a city 1,500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, targeting an area near a major plant that produces missile and aircraft components [147577]. Russia has responded by bombing Ukrainian positions with heavy artillery and air strikes, trying to stem the drone-driven bleeding [147796].

Ukraine is now pushing a diplomatic angle to buy time. Its foreign minister proposed a mutual halt to attacks on airports, which would give Moscow a reason to negotiate — especially since both of Russia’s main airports are now within Ukrainian striking range [147312]. At the same time, Ukraine called for a temporary ceasefire targeting each other’s energy infrastructure, following claims that its long-range strikes have disabled over 40% of Russia’s seaborne oil export capacity [122398].

Separately, the United States and Ukraine are finalizing a landmark deal to manufacture and export drones together [147574][147412][147147]. Under the proposed framework, Ukrainian firms would produce drones in partnership with U.S. manufacturers and send their own military tech to the United States [147412]. Germany’s Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, arrived in Kyiv to help Ukraine develop the long-range strike weapons Europe currently lacks, aiming to co-build those systems [146680]. Denmark also announced a €33 million investment to train Ukrainian soldiers in medical care, mine clearance, and small-unit tactics — a shift from just donating weapons to ensuring soldiers can survive and use them effectively [85441].

But on the diplomatic front, Russia’s human rights commissioner told President Putin that returning Ukrainian children is a top priority — she reported that about 20 children have been returned to Ukraine from Russia, while seven were brought into Russia [147469]. At least 20,000 Ukrainian children are still being held by Russian families and authorities, with many subjected to forced “reeducation” and military training [146684].

Meanwhile, a critical $614 million tax package to unlock $8.1 billion in International Monetary Fund (IMF) aid — a vital lifeline for Ukraine’s war-torn economy — is now six weeks overdue, with parliament blocking approval [147033].