Is Peace Further Away? Russia Launches Large-Scale Drone and Missile Strikes on Ukraine

US-Owned Company Also Hit by Missile Attack
Zelensky: "Russia Shows No Willingness to Engage in Peace Talks"

On the night of August 20 to 21 (local time), Russia launched a large-scale airstrike across Ukraine using hundreds of drones, resulting in one death and several injuries.

On August 21, major international media outlets, citing the Ukrainian military, reported that the previous night Russian forces launched 574 drones and 40 missiles, while Ukraine’s air defense shot down 546 drones and 31 missiles. This marks the third largest drone strike and the eighth largest missile strike by Russia against Ukraine this year.

The residential complex in Lviv, Ukraine, reduced to ruins by Russian airstrikes. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

AP and AFP reported that most of the damage from the overnight airstrikes occurred in western Ukraine. According to local authorities, dozens of residential buildings in Lviv were damaged, leaving one person dead and two injured. In Mukachevo, Zakarpatska Oblast, near the borders with Hungary and Slovakia, more than ten people were injured.

US-Owned Company Also Hit by Missile Attack

A building in Mukachevo, Zakarpatska Oblast, destroyed by an airstrike. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

President Zelensky strongly condemned the airstrikes, calling them "insane attacks." On X (formerly Twitter), he expressed outrage, stating, "Russian forces targeted civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, and our people." President Zelensky also reported that in Zakarpatska Oblast, a US-owned company was hit by a cruise missile. He pointed out, "This is an ordinary civilian company producing everyday items like coffee machines and receiving US investment, yet it became a target of Russia."

Zelensky: "Russia Shows No Willingness to Engage in Peace Talks"

Unlike the record-breaking drone strikes in June and July, Russia has, since the rapid progress of ceasefire negotiations this month, reduced the scale of airstrikes on cities across Ukraine and instead intensified its offensive to expand occupied territories on the eastern front. Following the US-Russia summit in Alaska on August 15, the US-Ukraine-Europe summit at the White House on August 18, and with mediation by US President Donald Trump, a Russia-Ukraine summit is currently being arranged.

However, President Zelensky stated, "Judging by this airstrike, Russia appears to have no intention of participating in peace talks," and appealed, "The international community must strongly pressure Russia with tough sanctions and tariffs."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.