Ukraine, Russian Counterstrikes Kill Three
Ukrainian and Russian cross-border strikes left three civilians dead over the weekend, hours before President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to meet President Donald Trump during the United Nations General Assembly.
Officials in Russia’s Belgorod region said Ukrainian drones on Saturday killed a woman in the border town of Shebekino, while a drone strike on the village of Rakitnoe left a man dead.
Belgorod has been repeatedly targeted since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.
In eastern Ukraine, one man was killed when Russian forces attacked residential areas in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, according to local officials. The strike also damaged homes and infrastructure.
The deaths followed a massive Russian aerial barrage on Saturday, which Ukraine’s air force said involved more than 600 missiles and drones and left at least three people dead nationwide.
Zelenskyy later warned that Russia had deployed “thousands of foreign components” in its weapons, urging both the European Union and the United States to toughen sanctions.
The violence also heightened regional tensions. Estonia summoned a Russian diplomat after three Russian fighter jets entered its airspace Friday, just days after NATO planes shot down Russian drones over Poland. Russia denied the violation.
Speaking briefly to reporters on Sunday, on Russian aircraft entry into Estonian Airspace, Trump said, “We don’t like it.”
Asked if the U.S. would stand by Poland and the Baltic states in the face of continued Russian aggression, Trump replied, “I will.”
Zelenskyy has said his talks with Trump in New York will focus on securing long-term security guarantees for Ukraine as the war continues.
Ukraine, Russian Counterstrikes Kill Three is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
