Drone Warfare Shakes Up Ukraine-Russia Conflict: Billions in Damages and Stalled Peace Talks

Ukraine-Russia War: Drone Warfare and the Stalemate in Istanbul. The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has entered a new phase, marked by the innovative use of drones. Ukraine's recent attack on Russian airbases using hundreds of low-cost drones caused billions of dollars in damage, targeting long-range bombers. This audacious operation, dubbed "Spider's Web," underscores Ukraine's capacity for strategic strikes deep within Russian territory. Meanwhile, Russia has employed fiber-optic drones, allowing for precision strikes and significant territorial gains in eastern Ukraine. A BBC correspondent in Kyiv described the Ukrainian operation as "an attack of surprising ingenuity—unprecedented, extensive, and requiring 18 months of preparation." Despite these developments, peace talks in Istanbul yielded minimal progress, with Russia rejecting Ukraine's call for an unconditional ceasefire. The contrasting military strategies and the lack of diplomatic progress highlight the complexities of the conflict. The human cost of this war is also evident through interviews with Ukrainian soldiers who describe the intense and relentless fighting.