Russia launches large-scale attack on Ukraine, three dead, dozens injured

Russia launched a largescale missile and drone attack across Ukraine early on Saturday killing at least three people and injuring dozens more news agency AP reported quoting Ukrainian officialsUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attacks hit nine regions including Dnipropetrovsk Mykolaiv Chernihiv Zaporizhzhia Poltava Kyiv Odesa Sumy and KharkivldquoThe enemys target was our infrastructure residential areas and civilian enterprisesrdquo he stated adding that a missile armed with cluster munitions struck a multistorey building in the city of DniproldquoEach such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to intimidate civilians and destroy our infrastructurerdquo Zelenskyy wrote on his official Telegram accountThe Ukrainian President also informed that he expected to meet United States US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly UNGA next week He added that the first ladies of Ukraine and the US would likely hold separate talks focused on humanitarian issues concerning childrenHis comments made on Friday were embargoed until Saturday morningAt least 30 people were wounded in the attack in Ukraines central Dnipropetrovsk region Governor Serhii Lysak said Several highrise buildings and homes were damaged in the eastern city of Dnipro AP reportedRussiaUkraine war Moscow launched 619 drones and missiles says Ukrainian Air ForceIn the Kyiv region authorities reported strikes in Bucha Boryspil and Obukhiv damaging homes and cars In western Lviv Governor Maxim Kozytsky said two cruise missiles were shot downRussia launched 619 drones and missiles Ukraines Air Force saidThis included 579 drones eight ballistic missiles and 32 cruise missiles reported AP Ukrainian forces shot down 552 drones two ballistic missiles and 29 cruise missilesldquoDuring the air strike tactical aviation in particular F16 fighters effectively engaged the enemys cruise missiles Western weapons once again prove their effectiveness on the battlefieldrdquo the Air Force saidRussia denies violating Estonias airspaceRussiarsquos Defence Ministry denied its aircraft violated Estoniarsquos airspace after Tallinn reported that three fighter jets crossed into its territory on Friday without permission for 12 minutesThe incident described by Estonias top diplomat as an ldquounprecedentedly brazenrdquo incursion occurred just over a week after NATO planes downed Russian drones over Poland raising fears that the war could spill overMoscow said the MiG31 fighter jets remained over neutral Baltic Sea waters more than 3 kilometres from Estoniarsquos Vaindloo Island in the Gulf of FinlandldquoOn September 19 three MiG31 fighter jets completed a scheduled flight from Karelia to an airfield in the Kaliningrad regionrdquo the ministry said ldquoThe flight was conducted in strict compliance with international airspace regulations and did not violate the borders of other states as confirmed through objective monitoringrdquoEstonian officials said Tallinn had summoned a Russian diplomat to protest and initiated consultations among NATO allies under Article 4 which allows members to confer whenever territorial integrity political independence or security is threatenedPolish and allied aircraft scrambledPolands Operational Command said Polish and allied aircraft were deployed overnight in response to Russian longrange airstrikes in neighbouring Ukraine The operation was described as ldquopreventiverdquo and aimed at securing airspace near the threatened zonesPolish jets have frequently patrolled the countryrsquos airspace in connection with Russian attacks on Ukraine Last week Romania deployed two F16 jets to intercept a drone that briefly entered its airspaceZelenskyy seeks to finalise security guarantees in New York meetingsZelenskyy said Ukraine and its partners have laid the groundwork for longterm security guarantees and he hopes to gauge progress during next weekrsquos meetings in New YorkHe added that European nations are ready to move forward with a framework if the United States remains closely engaged with discussions ongoing among military leadership and general staffs in Europe and the USldquoI would like to receive signals for myself on how close we are to understanding that the security guarantees from all partners will be the kind we needrdquo Zelenskyy saidHe stressed that sanctions against Russia must remain if peace efforts stall and said he would press the issue with TrumpldquoIf the war continues and there is no movement toward peace we expect sanctionsrdquo he said adding that Trump is seeking strong steps from EuropeWith AP inputs