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A Russian drone strike on Zaporizhzhia city in southeast Ukraine killed one person and wounded seven others, emergency authorities said Wednesday morning.
“A fire broke out in a three-storey residential building with a total area of 800 square metres. Due to the threat of constant enemy attacks, rescue workers were forced to take cover several times,” Ukraine’s state emergency service wrote on Telegram, adding that the blaze was brought under control in the early hours.
“Residential buildings, vehicles and civilian infrastructure were damaged in several areas of the city,” the authorities said.
Zaporizhzhia Regional Governor Ivan Fedorov said Russia carried out five strikes on the city, which also damaged part of Zaporizhzhia National University, according to authorities.
Russian strikes also hit the Sumy region, where several animals were killed after a riding school was hit, according to Oleh Hryhorov, head of the Sumy regional military administration.
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia attacked Ukraine with 119 drones overnight, of which 97 were intercepted. 20 drones were reported hitting 11 locations across Ukraine.
The strikes came as G7 leaders prepared to begin their final day at a summit in Évian, where in a rare moment of convergence, the leaders endorsed a statement that reaffirms their support for Ukraine and its population.
In a joint statement last night, G7 leaders expressed “unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”
The leaders praised Kyiv for the new momentum it has built on the battlefield, and pledged to back it with increased deliveries of air defence systems, additional interceptors, and long-range capabilities.
The recent US-Iran framework deal has added momentum to efforts aimed at constraining Russia’s war-financing capabilities, with leaders pledging tougher sanctions on its energy sector.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said his country could soon reimpose sanctions on Russian oil shipments as more oil moves through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iran war has recently overshadowed Ukraine, but Trump said he wants to shift the focus following the announcement of an agreement to end the 3 1/2-month-old conflict in the Gulf.
Additional sources • AFP