Five people were killed and 20 others injured in extensive Russian attacks targeting several Ukrainian regions on Friday, damaging property and residential neighbourhoods. The attacks came as the United States announced its approval of a possible 2.68-billion-dollar military deal to provide Kyiv with air defence systems. The governor of Kharkiv Region said strikes targeting the city of Kharkiv and 14 villages across the region killed five people and injured 15 others.
In Dnipropetrovsk Region, the local governor reported that two people were injured and property was damaged after attacks hit four residential neighbourhoods. In Zaporizhzhia, the regional governor said three people were injured and property damaged in attacks targeting the city and other areas of the region, as part of a wave of strikes that hit several Ukrainian regions.
Moscow announces strikes on military sites and shipments
The Russian Defence Ministry, meanwhile, said its forces had targeted a logistics centre in the Kyiv region, claiming it was used to store and distribute military shipments arriving in Ukraine from European countries. The ministry added that the attacks hit three vessels in the Black Sea and the port of Chornomorsk, saying the ships were carrying military shipments bound for Ukraine.
It also announced that it had targeted a pontoon bridge over the Dniester River in the Odesa region, saying it was used to transport military shipments arriving from Romania. The Russian Defence Ministry also reported that its air defences had shot down 344 Ukrainian drones over various parts of the country during the previous night.
Poland warns of wider Russian attacks
Amid growing concerns in Poland that it could come under Russian strikes, US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Moscow had been targeting Kyiv’s allies for about five years, adding that everyone agreed on this, without providing further details about the nature of the threat.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had warned lawmakers on Thursday to expect more severe Russian attacks on Ukraine and the countries supporting it in the coming weeks. He referred to intelligence assessments warning of possible drone or missile attacks that could appear “accidental” against countries supporting Kyiv, including Poland.
Washington approves air defence deal for Kyiv
Regarding military support, the US State Department announced its approval of a possible deal to provide Ukraine with air defence systems, at an estimated cost of about 2.68 billion dollars. The deal includes missiles, laser-guided long-range defence systems, mobile launchers and radars designed to counter drones, as well as maintenance and logistical support services.
The US State Department said that, if completed, the deal would be funded through a combination of European contributions and money previously allocated under the US military financing programme. It stressed that the deal would not upset the military balance in the region and would not require additional US personnel or contractors to be sent to Ukraine.
Congress passes new sanctions on Russia
In a parallel development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked his US counterpart for signing a bill imposing new sanctions on Russia and praised the members of Congress who helped pass it. He said the best tribute to the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who led the legislative efforts related to the bill, would be to implement its provisions fully and as quickly as possible.
The US House of Representatives passed the sanctions package on Wednesday by 262 votes to 159, after the Senate approved it in August by 86 votes to 11. The package targets Russian officials, financial institutions and a network of oil tankers used to circumvent Western sanctions.
It also gives the US president the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, with specific exceptions.
Zelenskyy described the House’s passage of the bill as symbolic because it coincided with Russia launching another large-scale attack on Ukraine that same night.
