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RUSSIAN AIR ATTACKS across Ukraine early today killed at least four people and damaged critical infrastructure, including a port and a maternity hospital, authorities said, as Russia pressed on with its war against Ukraine.
Moscow has been firing drones at Ukraine in nightly barrages during its four-year invasion launched in February 2022, with Kyiv accusing it of attacking residential areas and targeting civilians.
In the southern port city of Odesa, two people were killed and at least 13 wounded, said Sergiy Lysak, the head of the city’s military administration, adding that one of the hits damaged a maternity hospital.
AFP images showed shattered windows, with rubble inside the building and shards of glass strewn across the floor and treatment chairs.
“There was no military purpose whatsoever – this was pure terror against ordinary civilian life,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media about the strikes on Odesa.
A port in the Odesa region was also damaged in the shelling, after several hits were recorded on its infrastructure, Ukraine’s state ports authority said.
Russia launched 273 drones at Ukraine overnight, 252 of which were shot down, the Ukrainian air force said on Saturday.
In Kryvyi Rig, a man was killed in a morning strike that hit an industrial enterprise, said Oleksandr Ganzha, head of the Dnipro regional administration. He said fires erupted at the site.
In the central Poltava region, one person was killed after Russian drones hit a residential building and industrial facilities, regional authorities said.
State oil firm Naftogaz said the victim was its employee who worked as a process plant operator.
“We have suffered a tragic loss. Our colleague, 55-year-old Roman Chmykhun, was killed during one of the attacks,” Naftogaz said on Telegram, adding: “This is the second death of one of our colleagues this week.”
It said its facilities in the region were targeted “for the third day running”.
In Russia’s Yaroslavl region, a child was killed in a drone attack, regional governor Mikhail Evraev said on Telegram.
Moscow said that a total of 155 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and destroyed in Russia’s airspace overnight.
Meanwhile, Qatar and Ukraine today signed a defence agreement which includes cooperation on countering threats from missiles and drones, the Gulf state’s government said, as Iran presses an aerial campaign against its neighbours.
Earlier today, Zelenskyy – during a previously unannounced flurry of visits to Gulf nations – said his country and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to cooperate on defence amid drones Iran launches in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes.
Ukraine also signed an air defence agreement with Saudi Arabia during Zelenskyy’s visit to the kingdom, two senior officials told AFP yesterday.
Kyiv has sought to leverage its expertise in downing Russian drones to help Gulf nations and has deployed anti-drone experts to all three countries Zelensky has visited during his diplomatic tour.
“The agreement includes collaboration in technological fields, development of joint investments and the exchange of expertise in countering missiles and unmanned aerial systems,” Qatar’s defence ministry said in a statement during Zelenskyy’s visit.
Ukraine has not disclosed what exactly has been agreed as part of the deals.
After meetings in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, Zelenskyy held talks in the UAE with Emirati President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“We agreed to cooperate in the field of security and defence. Our teams will finalise the details,” Zelenskyy said on social media today.
“For all normal states, it is important to ensure stability and protect lives amid today’s threats. Ukraine has relevant expertise in this area,” he said.
Ukraine touts its anti-drone defences as the best in the world.
It has proposed swapping its interceptors for the vastly more expensive air-defence missiles that Gulf countries are using to down Iranian drones. Kyiv says it needs more of them to fend off near-daily Russian missile attacks.
“Protection must be sufficient everywhere. That is why we are open to joint work that, in a strategic perspective, will certainly strengthen our peoples and the protection of life in our countries,” Zelenskyy said today.
In the UAE, Zelenskyy met Ukrainian anti-drone experts, who “have been working here to help in protecting lives”.
“Today, Ukraine not only needs assistance but is also ready to support those who support us,” Zelenskyy said.
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