Ukraine hit by large-scale Russian drone, missile strikes; six dead

Russia launched a wide drone and missile attack across Ukraine on Wednesday killing at least six people Ukrainian officials said a day after US President Donald Trump put his planned meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on hold saying he didnt want it to be a waste of timeUkraines energy minister said a massive combined overnight attack on Ukraines energy infrastructure was still underway early Wednesday the latest in Russias effort to cripple the countrys energy system before winter At least 18 people were injured in the attack said Kyiv administration head Tymur TkachenkoThe attack caused emergency power blackouts across the country Ukraines Energy Ministry said Repairs were underway where possible and electricity would be restored as soon as possible it saidAnother night that proves Russia does not feel enough pressure for prolonging the war Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a statementHe said the strike caused damages in the cities of Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia as well as Odesa Chernihiv Dnipropetrovsk Kirovohrad Poltava Vinnytsia Zaporizhzhia and the wider regions of Kyiv Cherkasy and SumyPressuring RussiaZelenskyy urged the European Union the United States and the Group of Seven industrialised nations or G7 to take steps to sanction RussiaIt is very important that the world does not remain silent now and that there is a united response to Russias treacherous strikes he saidMeanwhile Ukraines Army General Staff said the countrys forces struck a chemical plant in Russias Bryansk region late on Tuesday night using airtosurface Storm Shadow missiles The plant is an important part of the Russian military and industrial complex producing gun powder explosives missile fuel and ammunitionRelentless attacksIn the Kyiv region rescuers discovered the bodies of three people including two children after a strike set a private house ablaze in the village of Pohreby regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk said According to him the victims were a woman and her two daughters an infant of 6 months and a 12yearold girlTheir bodies were found at the site of the fire the governor said This is a tragedy for the entire community for the Kyiv region and for the countryTwo more people were found dead in the Dnipro district of the Ukrainian capital where emergency services rescued 10 people after a fire caused by drone debris hit the sixth floor of a 16storey residential building local authorities saidThe attack also blew out windows of a medical facility and debris was found at another residential building Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko reported on his Telegram channelIn the Darnytskyi district of the capital emergency services were responding after drone debris hit a 17storey residential building causing a fire on five floors Fifteen people had to be rescued including two childrenIn the Desnianskyi district 20 people were rescued after the facade of a 10story building was damaged and a gas pipe caught fire Debris from a drone also fell on a dormitory building and rescue workers were headed to the scene Klitschko saidThe largescale overnight aerial attack also targeted the city of Zaporizhzhia and the port city of Izmail in the southern Odesa regionAn energy object in Odesa region suffered extensive damages according to DTEK Ukraines biggest private energy operator The company also said Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions experience emergency blackoutsFollowing the blackouts Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk said that as soon as security conditions allow energy workers will begin assessing the consequences of the attack and carrying out repair workWhats aheadOn Wednesday Trump is expected to hold talks at the White House with NATO SecretaryGeneral Mark Rutte The military alliance has been coordinating deliveries of weapons to Ukraine many of them purchased from the United States by Canada and European countriesThe decision to postpone the meeting in Budapest Hungary which Trump had announced last week followed a call Monday between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov The Russian diplomat made clear in public remarks Tuesday that Moscow opposes an immediate ceasefireUkraine meanwhile is seeking to purchase 25 Patriot air defence systems from US firms using frozen Russian assets and assistance from partners President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said acquiring them would take time because of long production time but added that he has spoken to Trump about help procuring them more quickly potentially from European partnersEarlier this month Russia carried out its largest attack of the war on natural gas facilities operated by Ukraines stateowned Naftogaz Group launching 381 drones and 35 missiles according to Ukraines air force Officials said the strikes were part of an effort to cripple the countrys power grid ahead of winterThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness 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