KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia reported that it shot down three dozen Ukrainian drones approaching Moscow, while Ukraine announced that Russian missile strikes, drones, and bombs resulted in the deaths of at least two civilians. This escalation occurred as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought to strengthen international support at a U.N. gathering of world leaders on Tuesday.
Zelenskyy’s forces are reportedly under significant strain on the front lines, particularly against Russia's larger invading army, following more than three years of intense fighting. In New York, he was scheduled to hold meetings with global leaders attending the U.N. General Assembly this week.
Efforts towards peace, initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump since his return to office in January, seem to have stalled. Trump's recent summit in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin, along with a White House meeting with Zelenskyy and other European leaders, took place over a month ago, yet hostilities persist.
On Monday, Zelenskyy met with Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy. The discussions centered on cooperation agreements regarding drone manufacturing and the procurement of American weaponry, as confirmed by Zelenskyy via Telegram.
European leaders have been supportive of Zelenskyy's diplomatic outreach, despite the ongoing conflict in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which is anticipated to dominate discussions at the United Nations. Concerns are mounting among some European nations about the potential spread of the Ukraine conflict due to what they describe as provocative actions by Russia.
NATO allies are set to engage in formal consultations at Estonia's request on Tuesday, following an incident where three Russian fighter jets allegedly entered Estonian airspace without authorization.
The ongoing full-scale war, which began on February 24, 2022, continues to inflict severe consequences on Ukrainian civilians. The U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights noted earlier this month that civilian casualties in Ukraine have risen by 40% during the first eight months of 2023 compared to the previous year, as Russia intensified its long-range missile and drone attacks.
Moreover, a report from the U.N. Human Rights Office released on Tuesday highlighted the dire conditions faced by thousands of Ukrainian civilians detained by Russian forces in occupied regions. The report stated that "Russian authorities have subjected Ukrainian civilian detainees in occupied territory to torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence, in a widespread and systematic manner."
In related incidents, Russian aircraft dropped five glide bombs on the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia overnight, resulting in one casualty, according to regional head Ivan Fedorov. Additionally, in the Odesa region, a Russian missile strike on the town center of Tatarbunary resulted in the death of a woman, as reported by regional head Oleh Kiper.
Overall, the Ukrainian air force reported that Russian forces launched a total of three Iskander ballistic missiles and 115 strike and decoy drones at Ukraine during the overnight hours. They stated that 103 drones were either intercepted or jammed, while 12 drones and three missiles successfully hit targets in six different areas.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin noted that over 40 Ukrainian drones heading towards the Russian capital were intercepted between Monday evening and midday Tuesday. The incident resulted in temporary halts of flights in and out of Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, causing various delays and cancellations. The Russian Defense Ministry later reported intercepting 69 Ukrainian drones across several Russian regions and the annexed Crimean Peninsula.
