**Ukraine Hit by Widespread Russian Attacks, at Least 7 Civilians Killed**
In a devastating escalation of violence, Russia launched a series of attacks across Ukraine yesterday, killing at least seven civilians and injuring dozens more. The attacks, which included drone strikes and artillery fire, targeted several regions, including Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia.
According to regional authorities, the energy grid in Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts was specifically targeted, with Russia launching 45 Shahed-type attack drones. While most of these were intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses, nine drones managed to hit three different locations, causing significant damage and disrupting energy supplies.
One of the most disturbing incidents occurred when a Russian first-person-view (FPV) drone struck a house in the Stepnohirsk community, killing two men aged 59 and 53. In another attack, Russian forces targeted a resort in Zaporizhzhia district, killing two people and injuring 12, including at least four children.
The attacks also hit civilians in other regions, with four people injured in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, two women and a man wounded in Nikopol district, and one person killed and seven injured in Donetsk Oblast. In Kharkiv Oblast, a 20-year-old woman was injured after Russia launched drone attacks and air strikes against the city.
**Energy Infrastructure Targeted**
The attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has raised concerns about the country’s ability to prepare for the coming winter months. President Volodymyr Zelensky described the assault as “a deliberate blow” to Ukraine’s preparations, highlighting the need for international support and pressure on Russia to end its aggression.
In response to the attacks, Romanian authorities issued an emergency warning to their population in border areas and scrambled two F-16 fighter jets. The Ukrainian president called for strengthened international sanctions against Russia, emphasizing that only genuine pressure would prompt Moscow to seek a ceasefire.
**U.S. Envoy Arrives in Moscow**
As Ukraine faces growing Russian aggression, the U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in Moscow to discuss a path toward ending the war. The meeting comes amid reports of new sanctions threatened by former President Donald Trump’s administration.
The situation on the ground remains dire, with many civilians caught in the crossfire. In Zaporizhzhia district, medics and first responders are working to treat those wounded in a Russian strike on an ordinary recreation center.
As the world watches with growing concern, it is clear that the war in Ukraine continues to escalate, with devastating consequences for its people.
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