Russia has carried out a massive overnight attack on 14 regions of Ukraine, authorities have reported, while Kyiv has retaliated by striking Russian oil refineries.
Local officials confirmed one fatality and 30 injuries, including children, in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that Russia launched nearly 540 drones and 45 missiles, calling for tougher sanctions against Moscow.
Following the attack, Russia's defense ministry asserted that all targets of the strike had been achieved, a claim that remains unverified. It marked another chapter in the ongoing conflict that began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The latest escalation coincides with international negotiations aimed at achieving peace between the warring nations. Just days earlier, Kyiv endured its second-largest aerial assault of the war this year, resulting in at least 25 fatalities.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, local reports indicated significant strikes on infrastructure, with damage to a residential house and a shopping center, although no casualties were reported. This area has faced consecutive nights of Russian drone attacks, with Ukraine acknowledging the military presence in the region.
Key infrastructure near the capital, Kyiv, suffered damage, with explosions reported across central and southeastern Ukraine. Emergency services responded to numerous fires in Zaporizhzhia, while Kyiv targeted oil refineries in Krasnodar and Syzran in Russia, claiming substantial explosions and fires at the facilities.
Acknowledging the drone strikes, Russian authorities confirmed damage to their oil refinery in Krasnodar but reported no casualties. Meanwhile, the Russian military claimed to have shot down 20 Ukrainian drones, including 18 over Crimea.
The ongoing conflict has seen slow but steady advances from Russian troops, even amidst heavy losses. Russia's general staff stated operations would continue along almost the entire line of contact.
In light of these latest developments, Zelensky emphasized the need for global action against Russia, calling for unified international sanctions as a required response. European foreign ministers, currently convening in Denmark, are discussing measures including potentially freezing extensive Russian assets as part of this strategy.
The situation remains tense, with no clear resolution in sight as both sides prepare for ongoing military confrontations amidst international diplomatic efforts.
