Zelensky says Russia continues attacking Ukraine ahead of summit
A Russian drone caused a fire in the city of Sumy (left), while a ballistic missile killed one person in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region.
KYIV - President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug 15 Russia was continuing to attack Ukraine ahead of
a summit in Alaska between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, but its attempt to 'show strength' with a new assault in the east had failed.
'On the day of the negotiations, they also kill people. And that says a lot,' Mr Zelensky said on the Telegram messaging app.
'The war continues. It continues precisely because there is no order, nor any indication that Moscow is preparing to end this war,' he added.
Earlier, Ukrainian regional officials said Russia had launched a ballistic missile into Dnipropetrovsk region in eastern Ukraine, killing one person and wounding at least one other, while a drone damaged civilian infrastructure and caused a fire in Sumy region in the north-east.
The city of Dnipro is a logistics hub for Ukrainian forces, and the Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy regions border the combat zone and are regularly shelled by Russian forces.
Ukraine said this week that small groups of Russian infantry had thrust some 10 kilometres towards the main defensive line near the eastern town of Dobropillia, raising fears of a wider breakthrough that would further threaten key cities.
However, officials said on Aug 14 that Ukrainian troops had managed to
stabilise the battlefield in the area.
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Commenting on the matter on Aug 15, Mr Zelensky said: 'The Russian intention was to show strength ahead of Alaska but in fact, for the occupiers, this is ending with their destruction.' REUTERS
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