Russia Launches Missile Barrage on Ukrainian Cities Following Failed Peace Talks July 24, 2025 Istanbul – K

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📰 Russia Launches Missile Barrage on Ukrainian Cities Following Failed Peace Talks
🗓️ July 24, 2025
📍 Istanbul – Kharkiv – Odesa – Zaporizhzhia

📄Russia launched a large-scale aerial assault on multiple Ukrainian cities just hours after peace talks in Istanbul failed to reach a ceasefire or prisoner exchange agreement. According to Ukrainian defense sources, over 103 drones and missiles were fired during the night of July 24, marking one of the most coordinated strikes in recent weeks.

The primary targets included:

Kharkiv: Suffered the heaviest damage. At least 3 people were killed, and a 9-year-old girl was seriously injured by shattered glass and blast impact.

Odesa: Sustained several airstrikes that triggered fires at storage facilities and critical infrastructure sites.

Zaporizhzhia & Cherkasy: Partial blackouts were reported as electrical grids were struck. Dozens of residential homes were also damaged.

The timing of the attack—immediately after the breakdown of talks in Türkiye—raises concerns about Moscow’s growing reliance on high-impact retaliatory strikes as a primary diplomatic lever.

This assault underscores Russia’s long-standing strategy of leveraging “aerial pressure” to control political outcomes. Analysts interpret the strikes as a deliberate signal: that negotiations with Ukraine will only proceed under conditions of coercion, dictated by Russian force projection.

Further escalation is expected, especially if diplomatic channels remain stalled. Ukraine may now prioritize strengthening its air-defense grid in the east and south. Meanwhile, the failure of the Istanbul talks and the subsequent bombardment could harden Kyiv’s stance, potentially derailing future dialogue efforts.

🔗 Reported from Istanbul, Türkiye – World News War Correspondence Desk

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