A Russian drone killed a family of three in southern Ukraine, causing outrage in Kyiv 48 hours before both countries undertake negotiations with the US to end the three-year conflict. Russian and Ukrainian delegations will have separate talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia on Monday, with a senior Ukrainian official telling AFP that the country aims to negotiate "at least" a partial ceasefire to halt air and naval attacks. Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected a combined US-Ukrainian offer of a total and unconditional ceasefire, proposing to halt strikes on energy sites and claiming to have issued the "corresponding order" to his forces.
A Russian drone killed a family of three in southern Ukraine, sparking outcry in Kyiv 48 hours before both countries begin talks with the US to end the three-year conflict. Russian and Ukrainian delegations will meet separately with US officials in Saudi Arabia on Monday, with a senior Ukrainian official telling AFP that the country hopes to reach a "at least" partial ceasefire to halt air and naval attacks. Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected a joint US-Ukrainian offer of a total and unconditional ceasefire, proposing to halt strikes on energy sites while claiming to have issued the "corresponding order" to his forces.
An AFP photographer on the scene of one strike witnessed rescue workers rummaging through the ruins of a wrecked structure while smoke and fog hung in the night air. "Russia has once again violated the ceasefire and killed a 14-year-old child in Zaporizhzhia with a Shahed," President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, stated, alluding to Moscow's use of Iranian-style exploding drones throughout the war. The strikes in Zaporizhzhia injured 12 people, including a nine-month-old baby, according to Ukrainian officials. Ukraine also launched drone attacks against Russia overnight.