KYIV: Russian missile strikes killed four people, including a child, in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro last night, while a teenager and another person lost their lives in attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding region, officials reported on Saturday.
These strikes occurred less than 48 hours after Russia concluded a three-day BRICS summit in Kazan, where President Vladimir Putin faced international calls to end the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented, “After everything that was said in Kazan, Russian murderers returned to their usual business. This proves once again that aggression cannot be stopped by talking, but only by decisive actions in defence of the state.”
The Dnipro strikes late Friday resulted in multiple casualties and significant damage to buildings, including a hospital. Dnipropetrovsk region governor Sergiy Lysak stated that twenty people were wounded, among them four children. Images shared by the governor depicted rescuers sifting through rubble and a hospital room with blown-out windows.
Separate night attacks on Kyiv and its surrounding areas left two people dead, including a teenage girl who was killed in a drone strike, according to regional authorities. Throughout Russia’s invasion, Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, have faced deadly drone and missile attacks.
As Moscow intensifies strikes on energy infrastructure, Kyiv has been seeking additional air defence support from its allies in preparation for what is likely to be its toughest winter yet.
In related developments, the Russian military announced on Saturday that it had captured the frontline village of Oleksandropol in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, marking a series of advances in recent months.
