
Ukraine ‘hits power substation’ in drone attacks on Russian border regions
Ukraine launched a new wave of drone strikes on Russia’s border regions of Kursk and Kaluga overnight, according to the Russian defence ministry. At least one drone targeted a power substation, Russian officials said, blowing up a transformer and cutting power supplies to the village of Belaya, less than 25km from the border. Kyiv is yet to comment on the attacks, which began on Thursday evening and continued into Friday morning, and does not typically claim responsibility for operations across the border in Russia. Russia’s defence ministry said it shot down at least 10 drones over Kursk and one over Kaluga, according to an official quoted in state media. Drone attacks by both sides have increased in recent months on Moscow, the border regions, and on Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Russia claimed the power cut to Belaya affected a hospital. Regional governer Roman Starovoyt said on Telegram that one of the power substation’s transformers was destroyed by explosive devices dropped by a drone. "Five settlements and a hospital were cut off from power supply. Fire crews rushed to the scene," he said, according to AFP. "Power will be restored as soon as it is safe to do so." The Russian defence ministry earlier said it downed two Ukrainian drones over the neighbouring Belgorod region. The first drone was reportedly "thwarted" at about 5pm (local time) on Thursday, while a second one was brought down around four hours later. "The Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle was destroyed over the Belgorod region by air defence systems on duty," the ministry said. Meanwhile, three women were killed in the street after artillery hit a residential area in Kherson, Ukraine’s internal affairs minister Ihor Klymenko said on Thursday. Two men were killed in another Russian attack on Krasnohorivka. A further three people were injured, with three more injuries sustained by further shelling nearby in Kostyantynivka. Read More Zelensky says ‘only matter of time’ before Ukraine becomes Nato member Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin’s strikes kill five in Kherson and Donetsk regions Sunak set to preside over biggest set of tax rises since WWII, experts say The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary
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Zelensky says ‘only matter of time’ before Ukraine becomes Nato member
President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was only a "matter of time" before Ukraine became an official Nato member as he met the defence bloc's chief in Kyiv. Kyiv has pushed to join Nato despite Russia's threat. Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg reiterated on Thursday that Ukraine would be a member of the trans-Atlantic military alliance. He said the bloc would stand with Kyiv as long as it takes. Mr Stoltenberg met the war-time president in Kyiv to discuss the status of the ongoing Russian war, a day after Moscow accused Ukraine's allies of helping plan and conduct last week’s missile strike on the Black Sea Fleet’s headquarters in the annexed Crimean Peninsula. "We discussed strengthening Ukraine's air defence further in order to protect people from Russian terror," Mr Zelensky said in a post on social media X, describing Nato as a "de facto" ally. He added that Mr Stoltenberg agreed to make efforts to get the bloc members to provide additional air support to protect Ukraine’s power plants and energy infrastructure that were damaged by Russian attacks. The president said he reminded Mr Stoltenberg of the persistent drone, missile and artillery attacks that often strike residential areas. At least three women were killed in the street after artillery hit a residential area in Kherson in a fresh bout of Russian attack on residential places. “In the face of such intense attacks against Ukrainians, against our cities, our ports, which are crucial for global food security, we need a corresponding intensity of pressure on Russia and a strengthening of our air defence,” Mr Zelensky said. Nato has contracts for £2.08bn in ammunition for Ukraine, including 155 mm Howitzer shells, anti-tank guided missiles and tank ammunition, Mr Stoltenberg said. He continued: "The stronger Ukraine becomes, the closer we come to ending Russia’s aggression. “Russia could lay down arms and end its war today. Ukraine doesn’t have that option. Ukraine’s surrender would not mean peace. It would mean brutal Russian occupation. Peace at any price would be no peace at all.” Mr Zelensky separately met France’s defence minister Sebastien Lecornu to discuss the supply of weapons to Ukraine. Mr Lecornu brought a delegation with 20 representatives from French defence contractors who manufacture drones, robots, artillery, ammunition and employ artificial intelligence and cybertechnology. With agency inputs Read More Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin’s strikes kill five in Kherson and Donetsk regions Ukraine war: British national killed in action while volunteering as medic Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva's Olympic doping case will resume for two more days in November The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary
1970-01-01 08:00

Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin’s strikes kill five in Kherson and Donetsk regions
Russian strikes have killed five and injured six in the Kherson and Donetsk regions of Ukraine, officials have said. Three women were killed in the street after artillery hit a residential area in Kherson, internal affairs minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed, whilst in the east of the country, two men were killed in attacks on Krasnohorivka. A further three people were injured, with three more injuries sustained by further shelling nearby in Kostyantynivka. Earlier on Thursday, Nato’s secretary general said that Putin’s forces are being pushed back by Ukraine’s army, which is “gradually gaining ground” in the counteroffensive. Speaking at a joint press conference with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Jens Stoltenberg said “every metre that Ukrainian forces regain is a metre that Russia loses.” “And there is a stark contrast: Ukrainians are fighting for their families, their future, their freedom,” he added. “Moscow is fighting for imperial delusions.” Meanwhile, Zelensky stressed Ukraine‘s need for more air defence against Russian attacks, saying Moscow had used more than 40 Shahed drones in strikes on Ukraine the previous night alone. Read More Putin’s shameless UN charm offensive - with stolen grain from Ukraine Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva's Olympic doping case will resume for two more days in November Ukraine's Zelenskyy taps celebrities for roles as special adviser and charity ambassador
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