New report alleges Russia uses commercial drones to target civilians
Amid Ukraine's recent large-scale drone attack on Russian bombers, a new report exclusively obtained by NBC News claims Russia is deploying commercial-style drones to target civilians. NBC News' Ellison Barber interviewed a victim who says Russian soldiers targeted her, knowing she was a civilian.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Powys County Times
Trump says Putin told him Russia will respond to Ukrainian attack on airfields
US President Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin told him 'very strongly' in a phone call on Wednesday that he will respond to Ukraine's weekend drone attack on Russian airfields. The US president said in a social media post that 'it was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace.' The call that lasted for an hour and 15 minutes was Mr Trump's first known with Mr Putin since May 19. Mr Trump said he and Mr Putin also discussed Iran's nuclear programme. Ukraine's Security Service gave more details on Wednesday about its weekend drone strike on Russian air bases, which it claimed destroyed or damaged 41 Russian aircraft, including strategic bombers. The agency claimed the planes struck included A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22, Tu-160, An-12, and Il-78 aircraft, adding that artificial intelligence helped guide the drones thousands of kilometres from Ukraine. It also said it set off an explosion on Tuesday on the seabed beneath the Kerch Bridge, a vital transport link between Russia and illegally annexed Crimea, claiming it caused damage to the structure. But Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that there was no damage. Russia's Defence Ministry said on Wednesday that its troops have taken control of another village in Ukraine's northern Sumy region, on the border with Russia. Mr Putin announced on May 22 that Russian troops aim to create a buffer zone that might help prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks. Since then, Russia's Ministry of Defence claims its forces have taken control of nine Sumy villages. Mr Trump says part of his call with Mr Putin was focused on Iran and 'the fact that time is running out on Iran's decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly!' Mr Trump said in a post on his social media site that he told Russia's president 'that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement'. He said Mr Putin suggested 'that he will participate in the discussions with Iran' and could perhaps 'be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion'. Mr Trump previously boasted that a major announcement on Iran was coming – but none has materialised. He suggested in his latest post that Iran has been slow-walking their decision 'and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!'. Iran's supreme leader on Wednesday criticised an initial proposal from the US in negotiations over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme, though he stopped short of entirely rejecting the idea of agreement with Washington. The remarks by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei coloured in the red line expressed over recent days – one that says Tehran refuses to give up enriching uranium in any possible deal with the US. That demand has been repeatedly made by American officials, including President Donald Trump, though it remains unclear just how much US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff brought it up in his initial proposal to Iran. But what Ayatollah Khamenei did not say in his speech matters as well. He did not reject the talks, which Iran views as crucial for its economy to lift some the crushing economic sanctions it faces. Ayatollah Khamenei also did not insist on any specific level of nuclear enrichment. Iran now enriches uranium up to 60% – a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, who has led the talks with Mr Witkoff, said Tehran will soon offer its response to the US. Ayatollah Khamenei's speech Wednesday at the mausoleum of Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini may serve as a preview. 'If we had 100 nuclear power plants while not having enrichment, they are not usable for us,' he said. 'If we do not have enrichment, then we should extend our hand (begging) to the US.'
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Trump says Putin told him Russia will respond to Ukrainian attack on airfields
The call that lasted for an hour and 15 minutes was Mr Trump's first known with Mr Putin since May 19. Satellite images show, from top, the Belaya Air Base before a Ukrainian drone attack in the Irkutsk region of eastern Siberia in Russia, and the damage afterwards (Maxar Technologies via AP) Mr Trump said he and Mr Putin also discussed Iran's nuclear programme. Ukraine's Security Service gave more details on Wednesday about its weekend drone strike on Russian air bases, which it claimed destroyed or damaged 41 Russian aircraft, including strategic bombers. The agency claimed the planes struck included A-50, Tu-95, Tu-22, Tu-160, An-12, and Il-78 aircraft, adding that artificial intelligence helped guide the drones thousands of kilometres from Ukraine. It also said it set off an explosion on Tuesday on the seabed beneath the Kerch Bridge, a vital transport link between Russia and illegally annexed Crimea, claiming it caused damage to the structure. But Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that there was no damage. Russia's Defence Ministry said on Wednesday that its troops have taken control of another village in Ukraine's northern Sumy region, on the border with Russia. Mr Putin announced on May 22 that Russian troops aim to create a buffer zone that might help prevent Ukrainian cross-border attacks. Since then, Russia's Ministry of Defence claims its forces have taken control of nine Sumy villages. Russian President Vladimir Putin chairing a Cabinet meeting via videoconference at Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Mr Trump says part of his call with Mr Putin was focused on Iran and 'the fact that time is running out on Iran's decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly!' Mr Trump said in a post on his social media site that he told Russia's president 'that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement'. He said Mr Putin suggested 'that he will participate in the discussions with Iran' and could perhaps 'be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion'. Mr Trump previously boasted that a major announcement on Iran was coming – but none has materialised. He suggested in his latest post that Iran has been slow-walking their decision 'and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!'. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends a ceremony marking the anniversary of the 1989 death of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini at his shrine just outside Tehran on Wednesday (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) Iran's supreme leader on Wednesday criticised an initial proposal from the US in negotiations over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme, though he stopped short of entirely rejecting the idea of agreement with Washington. The remarks by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei coloured in the red line expressed over recent days – one that says Tehran refuses to give up enriching uranium in any possible deal with the US. That demand has been repeatedly made by American officials, including President Donald Trump, though it remains unclear just how much US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff brought it up in his initial proposal to Iran. But what Ayatollah Khamenei did not say in his speech matters as well. He did not reject the talks, which Iran views as crucial for its economy to lift some the crushing economic sanctions it faces. Ayatollah Khamenei also did not insist on any specific level of nuclear enrichment. Iran now enriches uranium up to 60% – a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, who has led the talks with Mr Witkoff, said Tehran will soon offer its response to the US. Ayatollah Khamenei's speech Wednesday at the mausoleum of Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini may serve as a preview. 'If we had 100 nuclear power plants while not having enrichment, they are not usable for us,' he said. 'If we do not have enrichment, then we should extend our hand (begging) to the US.'
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Zelensky calls Russia peace proposal an ‘ultimatum' and demands talks with Putin
Both sides exchanged memorandums setting out their conditions for a ceasefire for discussion at Monday's direct peace talks between delegations in Istanbul, their second meeting in just over two weeks. Both sides have established red lines that make any quick deal unlikely. Mr Zelensky said that the second round of talks in Istanbul were no different from the first meeting on May 16. He described the latest negotiations in Istanbul as 'a political performance' and 'artificial diplomacy' designed to stall for time, delay sanctions and convince the United States that Russia is engaged in dialogue. 'The same ultimatums they voiced back then – now they just put them on paper … Honestly, this document looks like spam. It's spam meant to flood us and create the impression that they're doing something,' Mr Zelensky said in his first reaction to the Russian document. He added that the 2025 talks in Istanbul carry 'the same content and spirit' as the fruitless negotiations held in the Turkish city in the early days of the war. The Ukrainian leader said that he sees little value in continuing talks at the current level of delegations. Defence minister Rustem Umerov led the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul, while Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Mr Putin, headed the Russian team. Mr Zelensky said he wants a ceasefire with Russia before a possible summit meeting with Mr Putin, possibly also including US President Donald Trump, in an effort to remove obstacles to a peace settlement. The US has led a recent diplomatic push to stop the full-scale invasion, which began on February 24 2022. 'We are proposing … a ceasefire before a leaders' summit,' with the US acting as a mediator, Mr Zelensky told a media briefing in Kyiv. 'Why a ceasefire before the leaders' meeting? Because if we meet and there is no mutual understanding, no willingness or vision on how to end this, then the ceasefire would end that same day. But if we see readiness to continue the dialogue and take real steps toward de-escalation, then the ceasefire would be extended with US mediation guarantees,' he said. Ukraine is ready to meet at any time from next Monday at a venue such as Istanbul, the Vatican or Switzerland, Mr Zelensky said. A second round of peace talks on Monday between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul lasted just over an hour and made no progress on ending the war. They agreed only to swap thousands of their dead and seriously wounded troops. Also, a new prisoner exchange with Russia could take place over the weekend, Mr Zelensky said. Also on Wednesday, Mr Zelensky also urged Western backers to speed up deliveries of air defence systems to counter Russian missile strikes and to help boost weapons production. The emphasis should be on US-made Patriot systems, he told a Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting at Nato headquarters in Brussels. 'These are the most effective way to force Russia to stop its missile strikes and terror,' he said via video link, urging representatives of around 50 countries to make good on past pledges. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth did not attend, the first time a Pentagon chief has been absent since the forum for organising Ukraine's military aid was set up three years ago. Mr Hegseth's predecessor, Lloyd Austin, created the group after Russia launched its all-out war on Ukraine. His absence is the latest step that the Trump administration has taken to distance itself from Ukraine's efforts to repel Russia. More than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed, according to UN estimates, as well as tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides. Mr Zelensky also appealed to the participants to buy weapons direct from Ukraine. 'Ukrainian industry still has significant untapped capacity, it just needs financing,' he said, underlining that a funding gap for weapons procurement amounts to about 18 billion dollars (£13 billion). The UK, which chaired the meeting along with Germany, said it plans a tenfold increase in drone production to help Ukraine. Drones have become a decisive factor in the war, now in its fourth year. Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene said that 'you recognise true friends not during a party, but when you do have difficult times. So therefore, our continuation of support for Ukraine and increasing it is of utmost importance'. Since the contact group was formed, Ukraine's backers have collectively provided around 126 billion dollars (£93 billion) in weapons and military assistance, including more than 66.5 billion dollars (£49 billion) from the US. The US has not chaired a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group since the Trump administration took office in January. European Nato allies are concerned that the US might withdraw troops from Europe to focus on the Indo-Pacific. French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that abandoning Ukraine would erode US credibility in deterring any conflict with China over Taiwan.
