KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – On Saturday, a Russian missile struck a front-line region in Ukraine, tragically resulting in the death of a 9-year-old girl and injuries to another child, according to statements made by Ukrainian officials. This incident occurred amidst ongoing uncertainty regarding the participation of Kyiv diplomats in a newly proposed round of peace talks in Istanbul by Moscow, scheduled for early next week.
The attack was part of a broader assault by Russian troops, which involved the launch of approximately 109 drones and five missiles across Ukraine overnight into Saturday. The Ukrainian air force reported that air defenses successfully intercepted three of the missiles and destroyed 42 of the drones, with an additional 30 drones failing to achieve their intended targets, causing no reported damage.
Governor Ivan Fedorov of Zaporizhzhia confirmed that the missile strike targeted the front-line village of Dolynka, leading to the destruction of one house and damaging several other nearby structures, vehicles, and outbuildings due to the shockwave from the blast. The local community continues to mourn the loss of the young girl and the injuries sustained by a 16-year-old resident.
In a separate incident on Saturday, 14 individuals were reported injured when Ukrainian drones attacked apartment buildings in Rylsk and the village of Artakovo, located in Russia's western Kursk region. Among those injured were four children, and the attacks also ignited several fires in the affected areas, as detailed by local acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein.
Amid these escalating hostilities, Andrii Yermak, a senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, indicated on Friday that Ukraine is prepared to resume direct peace negotiations with Russia in Istanbul. However, he emphasized that the Kremlin must first provide a promised memorandum outlining its stance on concluding the more than three-year conflict before both delegations can convene. President Zelenskyy, expressing concerns about the ongoing situation, accused Russia of “undermining diplomacy” by withholding this crucial document.
Zelenskyy further stated, “For some reason, the Russians are concealing this document. This is an absolutely bizarre position. There is no clarity about the format,” reflecting the frustrations felt by the Ukrainian leadership regarding the negotiations. Moscow had previously asserted that it would share its memorandum during the discussions, adding to the complexity of the diplomatic landscape.
The situation remains tense and fluid as both sides navigate a landscape marked by military actions and the potential for diplomatic resolutions. As the conflict persists, the humanitarian impact continues to be felt deeply across both Ukraine and the affected Russian regions.
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