Moscow-installed officials reported that one person was killed in a Ukrainian attack on Russian-occupied Crimea early Sunday morning, coinciding with Russian and Ukrainian leaders holding separate calls with U.S. President Donald Trump about ending the fifth-year war.
The Russia-installed regional Governor Sergei Aksyonov posted on Telegram that two others were injured in the northern Crimean attack, one of whom is in serious condition, though he provided no further details about the incident.
In recent weeks, Ukraine has intensified its attacks on key infrastructure targets within Crimea as Kyiv's military aims to isolate the vital Russian-held peninsula during this phase of the war.
The peninsula was seized by force and illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014. Western analysts and officials note that Ukraine’s increased use of long-range strikes demonstrates its capacity to inflict significant damage on Russia, thereby increasing pressure on the Kremlin, especially as Moscow's recent advances have slowed considerably.
These latest attacks followed discussions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin with Trump concerning a resolution to the war.
Zelenskyy stated on X that his call with Trump was to congratulate him on the 250th anniversary of American independence, adding that the two leaders discussed the situation along the front lines. He concluded late Saturday by saying, “There is a real prospect of ending this war, and America’s determination will be crucial. We agreed to continue the conversation in person during the NATO summit in Ankara.”
The Kremlin stated that Putin and Trump held a "constructive" phone call on Saturday regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
Kremlin foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov reported that during the nearly hour-and-a-half call, which was their fourth this year, Putin congratulated Trump and the American people on America's 250th anniversary of independence. Ushakov added that Trump reaffirmed his "readiness to help achieve a quick cessation of hostilities and search for peaceful solutions to settle the crisis" in Ukraine, noting that envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would continue mediation efforts and remain ready to visit Moscow.
The Kremlin adviser mentioned that Putin reiterated Russia's "preference for a diplomatic settlement of the conflict, provided that Russia’s well-known, fundamental positions are taken into account."
Ushakov also cited Putin accusing Kyiv and its European allies of "betting on prolonging, and even escalating the conflict," arguing that "the European ‘party of war’ proceeds from a flawed perception of the overall situation and the state of things along the line of contact."
Furthermore, Ushakov reported that Putin informed Trump about the "real situation on the battlefield, where Russian armed forces are confidently advancing, liberating one settlement after another." The Russian leader specifically mentioned the capture of the Ukrainian stronghold of Kostyantynivka, describing it as a key step toward the "liberation" of the entire Donetsk region. Kyiv has denied Russia's claim regarding the capture of Kostyantynivka.