Russia and Ukraine on Sunday claimed in separate statements that their armed forces downed dozens of each other's drones in the past day amid the continuing exchanges of fire between the two countries.
Russia's Ministry of National Defense said in a statement that its air defense forces shot down 75 Ukrainian drones, and that its troops repelled multiple Ukrainian attacks and launched offensives in the directions of Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia over the past 24 hours.
The ministry also claimed to have stricken Ukrainian military airport infrastructure, ammunition and fuel depots, and other targets across 139 areas, and captured another settlement in Donetsk.
The Ukrainian Air Force said that between 16:00 Saturday and 08:00 Sunday, it brought down 88 Russian drones amid a Russian aerial assault that involved 273 drones.
Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported 70 battles on the frontlines, with its troops repelling 22 of 25 Russian advances in the direction of Pokrovsk in Donetsk.
According to Russian media reports on Sunday, President Vladimir Putin said in an interview that the goal of Russia's special military operation is to eliminate the root causes that triggered the conflict, create the conditions for a lasting peace, and guarantee Russia's security.
The operation is also aimed at safeguarding the rights and interests of those who regard Russian as their mother tongue and Russia as their homeland, Putin said, adding that Russia has sufficient strength and means to achieve the goals above.
On the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the importance of achieving a full and unconditional ceasefire as soon as possible. He also said that Ukraine is ready to hold dialogue with Russia in any form to resolve the conflict.
Russia, Ukraine claim downing each other's drones
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
