On June 27, 2025, Russian forces launched another deadly missile strike on Samar, an industrial city in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region. The attack, which marked the second in three days, killed five people and injured 23, with several victims in critical condition. The regional governor, Sergiy Lysak, confirmed the strike via Telegram, following an earlier attack on Tuesday that killed two and targeted an unidentified infrastructure facility.

Moscow Pushes for Peace Amid Continued Offensive

As Russia intensifies its offensive in the Dnipropetrovsk region, President Vladimir Putin has signaled a willingness to engage in new peace talks with Ukraine. Speaking in Minsk, Belarus, on June 27, Putin acknowledged the significant differences in the peace proposals from both sides but emphasized that negotiations are ongoing to find common ground. He suggested that a new round of talks could take place in Istanbul, although no date has been set.

Putin also revealed Russia's plans to reduce military spending in the long term due to growing economic pressure. This admission came as Moscow faces rising inflation from increased defense expenditures.

Escalating Attacks Across Ukraine

In the wake of the Samar attack, Russian missile strikes continued to target multiple regions of Ukraine. On the same day, Kharkiv suffered additional casualties from Russian shelling. Meanwhile, in the Kherson region, Russian forces hit an energy facility, plunging residents into darkness and urging local authorities to prepare for extended power outages.

In the skies, the Ukrainian air force reported successfully intercepting 359 Russian drones and six cruise missiles, though four drones managed to breach air defenses. These ongoing attacks have raised concerns about the sustainability of Ukrainian defenses and the ongoing strain on its infrastructure.