Russian drones struck the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on Monday, a day after Kyiv's forces fired over 1,000 drones at Russia, officials said. The attacks caused significant damage and casualties, with five people wounded in Zaporizhzhia. Apartment blocks, a university, and a shopping mall were among the sites hit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russia also struck nine other regions of Ukraine.
The relentless daily attacks highlight the lack of significant progress in diplomatic efforts to end the fighting, which began over four years ago when Russia invaded its neighbour. Despite world leaders gathering at the UN General Assembly, there is no sign that the war is abating. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to meet US President Donald Trump at the annual event in New York, while Russian President Vladimir Putin is not due to attend.
Trump has commented on the war, calling it "ridiculous" and stating that Moscow had "unfortunately lost control" of its diesel oil production due to Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries. He noted that a large number of Russian diesel refineries have been temporarily put out of commission. Earlier this month, Trump urged Zelensky to halt the refinery strikes, citing concerns about global shortages and price spikes.
Zelensky responded to Trump's comments, noting that Kyiv has offered "dozens of diplomatic proposals on how to end this war with dignity, guarantee security, and prevent new Russian invasions". He emphasized that Ukraine's energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports must stop being targets for Russia, and that this would lead to matching de-escalation steps from Ukraine. European leaders are keen to pressure Putin to withdraw from Ukraine, but the Russian leader has shown no indication of backing down.
The Russian military has targeted Ukrainian logistics hubs, warehouses, and ports, among other military-related sites. The attacks came after Ukraine launched a large swarm of drones at Russia, including hundreds aimed at Moscow, as voters turned out for a parliamentary election. The Russian defence ministry reported that its air defences downed 244 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions and the Black Sea.
Ukraine's air force also reported that it shot down or suppressed 148 Russian drones in an overnight attack. The drone attacks have strayed into neighbouring countries, causing concern among leaders who fear being dragged into the conflict. Moldova's ministry of defence reported that part of its airspace was temporarily closed overnight after detecting an "aerial object" entering its national airspace.
The escalating drone attacks and lack of progress in diplomatic talks have raised concerns about the potential for the conflict to spread. Moldova's pro-Western President Maia Sandu has condemned Russia for its war on Ukraine, stating that Moscow's "brutal war is reaching our border". The situation remains tense, with no clear end in sight as world leaders continue to discuss possible solutions.
Key points
- Russia and Ukraine have exchanged drone attacks, with significant damage and casualties reported.
- Diplomatic efforts to end the fighting have stalled, with no sign of a resolution in sight.
- The conflict has raised concerns about the potential for it to spread to neighbouring countries.
