KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - A recent wave of Russian drone and missile strikes across various Ukrainian towns and cities has resulted in the tragic deaths of at least four people overnight, local officials confirmed on Saturday. Among the casualties, a Russian missile attack on an apartment block located in the Ukrainian city of Poltava led to the death of at least three individuals, with ten others reported injured, according to Ukraine's emergency services.
The attack caused significant damage, leading to the partial collapse of the five-story building. Volodymyr Kohut, the acting governor of the Poltava region, indicated that rescue teams were actively involved in the recovery efforts, successfully rescuing 21 individuals from the rubble of the damaged structure.
In a separate incident, a 60-year-old woman lost her life in the Kharkiv region due to falling debris from a downed drone. Local Governor Oleh Syniehubov shared this information via social media, highlighting the dangers posed by the ongoing conflict.
The bombardment coincides with the ongoing military operations by Russian forces, who have been making a sustained effort over several months to capture key strongholds in the Donetsk region, particularly the cities of Pokrovsk and Chasiv Yar. As Russian troops advance, fierce fighting has engulfed small rural settlements, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the night before the report, Russia had launched multifaceted attacks on various Ukrainian cities utilizing missiles, attack drones, and aerial bombs.
Zelenskyy asserted that each act of aggression underscores the urgent need for increased international support in defending Ukraine against Russian attacks. He emphasized that every air defense system and interceptor missile could mean saving lives amidst the ongoing conflict, which has claimed over 10,000 civilian lives according to United Nations estimates.
As the fighting escalates, many civilians have been forced to evacuate from areas along the approximately 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line, where Ukrainian defenses are facing challenges against the larger Russian military force. Civilians continue to suffer from shortages caused by Russian strikes on the national power grid, leading to disruptions in heating and running water supplies. Following the missile attack on Saturday, emergency power grid shutdowns were implemented in seven regions of Ukraine, including Poltava, as reported by the state energy company Ukrenergo.
In retaliatory measures, Ukrainian forces have also targeted Russia, successfully intercepting nine drones within the Bryansk, Belgorod, and Saratov regions, according to a statement from Russia's Defense Ministry released Saturday morning. The ongoing conflict, which began nearly three years ago, remains unresolved, with no immediate signs of cessation.
For ongoing coverage of the war in Ukraine, visit AP News.
