A fresh wave of Russian strikes overnight has left at least two people dead and dozens more injured across Ukraine, according to authorities.
The attacks, which prompted a nationwide air alert early Sunday, struck multiple regions, including the capital Kyiv, Sumy in the northeast, and Zaporizhzhia in the southeast.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported significant damage in Kyiv, where several high-rise residential buildings were hit. Photos released by the agency showed firefighters battling intense flames on upper floors as rescue teams worked to evacuate residents.
“One person died and 18 others were wounded in the capital as a result of the massive attack,” the agency said on Telegram. It confirmed that the blazes had been contained, though emergency operations were still underway as of mid-morning. The air alert was issued nationwide at 6:06 am (0306 GMT), sending millions of Ukrainians into shelters.
In the northeastern Sumy region, a separate strike targeted the outskirts of the town of Putyvyl. Regional military governor Oleg Grygorov said one person was killed in the assault, while several others were injured, including a nine-year-old child. “Following an enemy attack on the outskirts of the town of Putyvyl, one person has died, and there are people injured,” Grygorov wrote on Telegram.
Further south, in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region, a drone strike late Saturday injured at least 15 people. Four of them required hospitalisation, according to Ivan Fedorov, the head of the regional military administration. He shared images showing shattered residential buildings and debris scattered across streets.
Russian forces currently control around 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, more than three years into Moscow’s full-scale invasion launched in February 2022. The latest barrage comes amid renewed international efforts to bring an end to the war.
On Thursday, two dozen nations, spearheaded by France and Britain, pledged to participate in a “reassurance” force aimed at enforcing any eventual peace settlement. The proposed force would patrol agreed zones to ensure compliance with a ceasefire or peace agreement.
However, Russian President Vladimir Putin swiftly dismissed the idea, declaring any deployment of Western forces in Ukraine as “unacceptable.” He warned that such troops would be considered “legitimate” targets for Russian attacks.
Meanwhile, diplomatic initiatives led by US President Donald Trump have so far struggled to produce tangible results. Despite multiple rounds of discussions in recent weeks, little progress has been made toward ending the conflict, which continues to devastate Ukrainian cities and displace millions of civilians.
What You Should Know
The latest Russian strikes highlight the ongoing intensity of the war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year.
With deadly attacks hitting Kyiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia, civilian areas remain vulnerable despite international pledges of support.
While Western powers explore mechanisms to enforce a potential peace deal, Moscow’s rejection of foreign forces in Ukraine underscores the complexity of reaching a resolution.
