Russian missile, drone attacks kill seven in Ukraine

At least seven people have been killed in Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeks additional military assistance during a visit to Norway.

The attacks targeted civilian areas and damaged infrastructure, with casualties reported in the Kyiv region and along the Kyiv-Odesa highway.

Regional police said four people were killed and 27 others wounded in attacks on the Kyiv region over the previous day. In the Obukhiv district, three people were killed and six wounded, while warehouses were damaged.

In the Bucha district, a woman was killed and 21 people were wounded, including eight children. Hundreds of buildings were also reported damaged, according to the police.

A further attack on Tuesday morning killed three people and injured four when two vehicles caught fire on the Kyiv-Odesa highway. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said those killed included the driver of a shuttle bus that was struck. The bus was used to transport people from Kyiv to the National Military Memorial Cemetery.

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The attacks also affected Ukraine’s electricity supply. National grid operator Ukrenergo reported power outages in 12 regions following the strikes, raising fresh concerns over the impact of continued aerial attacks on essential services.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces had struck logistics centres, port infrastructure and cargo ships in the port of Reni in the Odesa region. It also reported that another bulk carrier had been hit at sea while travelling towards Odesa.

The Russian military did not provide an independent account confirming the civilian casualties reported by Ukrainian authorities.

The latest strikes came as Zelenskyy travelled to Oslo for discussions with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and European leaders. The Ukrainian president has been seeking more air defence equipment and continued support from Washington as his government faces uncertainty over future US assistance.

Zelenskyy has said Ukraine needs more Patriot interceptors to counter Russian ballistic missiles. He has also raised concerns about delays in intelligence sharing and restrictions affecting Ukraine’s use of military-grade satellite communications.

European governments have been discussing ways to sustain support for Kyiv should American assistance decline. The diplomatic talks in Norway are expected to address defence cooperation, weapons production and efforts to find a path towards ending the war.

The continued attacks underline the challenge facing Ukraine as it tries to protect civilians and critical infrastructure while maintaining its military capacity. Power outages, damaged buildings and casualties have added to the pressure on communities already affected by the prolonged conflict.

There was no immediate indication that the latest attacks would lead to a reduction in hostilities.

(APNews)