Russia launched its deadliest aerial assault on Ukraine this year, killing 16 people, including a 12-year-old child. The attack involved nearly 700 drones and 19 ballistic missiles targeting cities across Ukraine, with Kyiv suffering significant damage. In Kyiv, four people died, including the child, when a drone hit an 18-story building. Nine people were killed in Odesa, and two in Dnipro, where drones struck residential areas. The assault also left Mykolaiv and Kherson without power as energy infrastructure was targeted. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged allies to increase pressure on Russia, emphasizing the need for defense and sanctions. Meanwhile, a U.S. sanctions waiver on Russian oil sales expired, with no plans for renewal. Ukraine has been targeting Russia’s oil and gas infrastructure to counteract Russia’s profits from high oil prices. Russia claimed to have intercepted 207 Ukrainian drones, while Ukraine reported downing 31 missiles and 636 drones during the attack.
QUESTION: How might the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine influence global energy markets and international relations in the future?
Russia launches deadliest aerial assault of the year on Ukraine
