According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine has come under “one of the longest” Russian attacks with drone fire aimed at regions near the borders with NATO members in the west and southwest of the country.
Neighboring Slovakia briefly closed all border crossings with Ukraine for security reasons, while authorities in Hungary summoned the Russian envoy. Prime Minister Peter Magyar condemned the attack as the most serious attack on the region inhabited by the Hungarian minority since the beginning of the large-scale Russian invasion more than four years ago.
Local authorities in Ukraine said the drones hit residential buildings, municipal infrastructure and energy facilities. At least six people were killed and dozens more injured, including children, Zelenskiy said on X.
The renewed strikes follow a brief truce announced by President Donald Trump over the weekend after Moscow pushed Kiev for a temporary truce that would have allowed Vladimir Putin to hold a Victory Day parade in the capital.
The US president said on Tuesday that a “settlement” between Russia and Ukraine was “closer”. Trump arrived in China on a state visit on Wednesday as the two economies seek to stabilize relations with the summit taking place against the backdrop of the Iran war.
Zelensky said the timing of the renewed Russian attacks was no accident.
“At this difficult geopolitical moment, Russia is clearly trying to disrupt the overall political atmosphere and draw attention to its evils – trying to do so at the expense of Ukrainian lives and Ukrainian infrastructure,” the president said.
In Rivne, western Ukraine, at least three people were killed when a drone hit a residential building, according to local officials. Two train drivers were killed in another strike that also damaged engines, cars and substations, Zelensky aide Dmytro Lytvyn told reporters.
With the help of Andras Gergely.
This article was generated from an automated news agency source without text modification.
