Ukrainian and Russian attacks kill 3 civilians as Zelenskyy prepares to meet Trump
Tragic events unfolded as Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s Belgorod border region resulted in the deaths of two civilians, while Russian shelling of eastern Ukraine claimed the life of a man, officials reported on Sunday.
Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov of Belgorod shared on the Telegram messaging app that a woman lost her life in a private home in the border town of Shebekino due to shelling, and a man was killed in a drone strike on the village of Rakitnoe.
The Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine, has witnessed frequent cross-border attacks following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In Ukraine, a man lost his life, and residential buildings and infrastructure suffered damage from Russian shelling in Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, as confirmed by Serhii Horbunov, the head of the city’s military administration, on Sunday.
These tragic incidents occurred in the wake of Russia’s large-scale missile and drone attack on various regions across Ukraine on Saturday, resulting in the death of at least three individuals and injuring dozens. Ukraine’s air force reported that 619 drones and missiles were launched during the attack.
Furthermore, Estonia lodged a protest by summoning a Russian diplomat after three Russian fighter aircraft violated its airspace without authorization on Friday, remaining there for 12 minutes. This incident followed NATO’s downing of Russian drones over Poland, raising concerns about the potential spillover of the conflict in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the extensive attacks on Ukraine, including over 1,500 strike drones, 1,280 guided aerial bombs, and 50 missiles of various types over the past week. He expressed hope for substantial sanctions from the EU and U.S. to curb Russian aggression.
Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the United Nations General Assembly to discuss long-term security guarantees. Trump expressed disapproval of the Russian incursion into Estonian airspace, affirming support for Poland and other Baltic states in the face of Russian aggression.
Russia’s Defense Ministry refuted claims of violating Estonia’s airspace by its aircraft.
___
Stay updated on AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
