Ukrainian drone strikes target Crimea ahead of Zelensky-Trump summit

Ukraine has intensified drone attacks on Russian assets around Crimea ahead of a planned summit between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump to discuss potential ceasefire proposals.
Ukrainian forces have intensified drone strikes around occupied Crimea, targeting over 180 Russian maritime assets in three weeks to isolate the peninsula. The campaign coincides with preparations for a White House meeting on Tuesday between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, where officials plan to discuss diplomatic options, including a proposed aerial ceasefire.
The summit follows a Russian missile strike on a Kyiv defense exhibition that killed 10 people and injured nearly 100. Zelensky noted the event should not have occurred, while also claiming Russia is preparing to deploy 30,000 North Korean soldiers to Ukraine. Kyiv hopes mounting pressure on Russian military and economic infrastructure will create leverage for negotiations.
Sources: HRT Vijesti, Vijesti
Sources
Earlier coverage
- Jul 27, 2026, 06:00 AM UTCEuropean rearmament accelerates amid NATO airspace violations and Ukrainian drone strikes
- Jul 27, 2026, 12:30 AM UTCEuropean nations accelerate rearmament as regional security challenges escalate
- Jul 26, 2026, 11:30 PM UTCRomanian jets intercept Russian drones as Moscow warns Western allies
- Jul 26, 2026, 06:30 PM UTCUkraine expands Black Sea drone campaign as Zelensky warns of North Korean troop deployment
- Jul 26, 2026, 12:00 PM UTCRussia vows retaliation over Ukrainian strikes inside its territory
- Jul 26, 2026, 07:00 AM UTCZelensky to meet Trump in Washington as Ukraine escalates Crimean strikes
- Jul 26, 2026, 12:30 AM UTCZelensky warns Russia plans to deploy 30,000 North Korean troops
- Jul 26, 2026, 12:00 AM UTCTrump and Zelensky to meet in Washington amid global security escalations
- Jul 25, 2026, 06:00 PM UTCTrump and Zelensky to meet in Washington amid strikes and airspace violations
- Jul 25, 2026, 12:00 PM UTCTrump to host Zelensky as security threats escalate in Europe and Middle East