The Russian forces launched a massive drone attack on the city of Dnipro in southeast Ukraine, killing three people, including a child, and injuring dozens of others, officials announced on Thursday.
This strike, which occurred on Wednesday evening, is the last in a series of Russian attacks that have made civilian victims and have intensified in recent weeks, while the United States has been continuing their efforts to negotiate a cease-fire between Moscow and Kyiv.
Thirty people, including five, were injured in the attack, said Serhiy Lysak, head of the regional administration of Dnipropetrovsk.
Local authorities have said that drones had caused significant damage to civil infrastructure, including an educational institution, a dormitory, a gymnasium and several residential buildings.
Emergency services said the strikes had triggered several fires in the city.
In response to Dnipro’s attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged his allies to support his country with air defense weapons.
“Each partners’ defense plan for Ukraine, each form of international support for our resilience, literally protects lives,” wrote Mr. Zelensky on Telegram messaging on Thursday. Russia uses every day and night to kill. “
Mineral understanding
In addition, a Ukrainian delegation was in Paris to meet representatives of the countries of the “volunteer coalition”, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom, explained Andriy Yermak, head of the presidential administration.
The multinational force should constitute a long-term security guarantee to dissuade any future Russian aggression once the cease-fire has been established.
The delegation also includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha and the Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov. Yermak said interviews with American representatives were also planned.
“We are working on important aspects for the security of Ukraine and all of Europe,” wrote Mr. Yermak on Telegram.
Ukraine and the United States continue to work on a mining agreement for a long time delayed. The Ukrainian president said Thursday that an intention protocol-and not the full agreement-could be signed online later in the day, initially, granting the United States access to the vast mineral resources of Ukraine.
“A few days ago, the American part proposed to return to a previous stage – a protocol of intention – while lawyers continue to work on the full agreement,” said Zelensky at a press briefing in Kyiv. I think this protocol is important. This is the first step. “
The framework of the mining agreement was at a standstill in February following a controversial meeting in the oval office between President Donald Trump, vice-president JD Vance and Zelensky. Negotiations have since taken up a revised framework.
A previous version of the framework agreement, obtained by the Associated Press, described the plans of an investment fund held and jointly managed by the United States and Ukraine, intended to support the reconstruction of the Ukrainian economy torn by the war.
China in Zenlensky
While Kyiv strives to strengthen her ties with her Western allies, she expressed her concerns about an alleged military cooperation between Russia and China. Zelensky said Kyiv had received information confirming that China provided weapons to Russia, including barrel powder and artillery.
He said at the press conference that Ukrainian security and intelligence agencies reported that some Chinese representatives were involved in the production of weapons in Russian territory.
“We are ready to discuss it in detail,” he said, adding that Ukraine planned to share documents in support of these allegations next week. “We see cooperation between these two countries in this area, and we must recognize it.”
The Associated Press could not confirm Mr. Zelensky’s declarations.
China has given strong diplomatic support to Russia since the launch of its large -scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Beijing also offered an economic rescue in Moscow by means of its energy and consumer goods exchanges.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that its air defense systems had shot down 71 Ukrainian drones on Thursday to Friday in six regions. Among these drones, 49 were intercepted above the Koursk region, border with Ukraine. Kyiv’s forces seized a land band in the region during a surprise foray into August 2024.
Other drones have been killed above the regions of Britak, Vladimir, Orel, Riazan and Toula, said the ministry.
In Ukraine, Russia launched five missiles and 75 strike drones in the night, the air force announced on Thursday. Air defense forces destroyed 25 drones, while 30 others were blocked.
