Despite peace talks, why did Russia launch a massive drone attack on Kremenchuk?

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Russia's Overnight Drone Attack on Kremenchuk Undermined Peace Efforts, Ukrainian Mayor States

Russia launched a significant drone attack on the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk overnight, an action that Ukrainian officials interpret as a direct contradiction to any genuine pursuit of peace. This assault occurred just one day after US President Donald Trump met with European leaders and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington, where discussions focused on guaranteeing Ukraine's security and exploring avenues for ending the conflict. The mayor of Kremenchuk asserted that the timing of the attack, while President Putin was reportedly assuring President Trump of his desire for peace, clearly demonstrated an intent to destroy Ukraine rather than seek a resolution.
Timing of Attack Contradicts Diplomatic Overtures

The reported drone assault on Kremenchuk took place on the heels of high-level diplomatic engagements aimed at de-escalating the war. President Trump had indicated that he was arranging a meeting between Presidents Putin and Zelensky, to be followed by a trilateral summit, with the explicit goal of achieving a peace deal. The Ukrainian mayor highlighted the stark contrast between these peace-seeking discussions and the simultaneous military action, framing it as evidence of President Putin's unwillingness to negotiate a just peace.
Scale of Assault on Infrastructure

According to the Ukrainian air force, the overnight operation represented the largest drone and missile assault in August, with Russia deploying 270 drones and 10 missiles. While Ukrainian air defences claimed to have intercepted a substantial portion of these, downing 230 drones and six missiles, the strikes still impacted multiple locations. The attack specifically targeted energy and transport infrastructure, leading to widespread power outages affecting hundreds of residents in the Poltava region.
Infrastructure Damage and Power Disruptions

The damage extended to administrative buildings of a local energy infrastructure operation, though fortunately, no casualties were reported. In the Lubny district, the disruption in power supply affected nearly 1,500 residential customers and 119 commercial entities. Separately, a morning drone attack on Ukraine’s Chernihiv region also resulted in infrastructure damage and subsequent power cuts in parts of the northern area.
Reciprocal Infrastructure Targeting

The conflict has seen both sides engage in strikes against infrastructure deemed critical to military operations. In response to the Ukrainian drone activity, Russia reported that its own overnight drone attack had ignited fires at an oil refinery and on the roof of a hospital in Russia's Volgograd region.

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Despite peace talks, why did Russia launch a massive drone attack on Kremenchuk?

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