In brief
Overnight Russian bombardments resulted in the deaths of at least seven individuals in various Ukrainian cities, particularly Dnipro, where five lives were lost following a strike on an apartment building. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed concern over the continued attacks as rescue efforts are ongoing. In response, Ukraine has launched drone strikes deep into Russian territory, while military jets from the UK have been deployed to monitor the situation. The conflict persists without any sign of resolution, as both countries brace for further military engagements.
At least seven people were killed in Russian strikes across Ukraine overnight, including five in the central city of Dnipro, where officials said an apartment building was hit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the latest attack lasted practically all night, while rescue workers were still searching for survivors under rubble in Dnipro on Saturday morning.
British jets were scrambled from Romania during the heavy attack when Russian drones were detected near the border, though the UK Ministry of Defence rejected a report it had shot some down.
Meanwhile, Ukraine carried out some of its longest-distance drone strikes deep inside Russian territory. In Yekaterinburg, almost 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from Ukraine's border, the governor reported that six people were injured when a building was struck - while in nearby Chelyabinsk, drones targeting an industrial facility were intercepted.
Russian missiles and drones also targeted the northern city of Chernihiv, where two people were killed, as well as Odesa and Kharkiv. Ukrainian authorities said they repelled the vast majority of the more than 600 Russian drones, marking one of the most extensive attacks in recent days.
Zelensky commented on the Russian tactics: The Russians' tactics have not changed: strike drones, cruise missiles, and a significant amount of ballistics. Most of the targets are ordinary infrastructure in cities, including residential buildings and energy facilities.
Russia's Ministry of Defence claimed it had shot down 127 drones across more than a dozen regions and stated control had been gained of the village of Bochkove in the Kharkiv region. However, Ukrainian officials did not confirm this assertion.
Elsewhere, Romania's defence ministry reported investigating an object that fell on its territory near the Ukrainian border during the Russian attack, clarifying that British jets had not shot down any drones as the UAVs did not breach Romanian airspace.
With peace negotiations stalled, Ukraine continues to seek international military support while strengthening ties with allies, including discussions focused on air defense with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a recent meeting.
