Latest news with #civiliancasualties
Sky News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv kills at least 14 people
A Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine's capital overnight killed at least 14 people, including a six-year-old boy, Ukrainian officials said. At least 145 people were injured, including 14 children, the youngest being a five-month-old girl, Ukraine's Emergency Service said. It was the highest number of children injured in a single attack on Kyiv since the start of Russia's invasion three years ago, according to a count by The Associated Press. A large part of a nine-storey residential building collapsed after it was struck, according to authorities. Rescue teams continue searching for people trapped under the rubble. Yana Zhabborova, 35, who lives in the damaged building, was awakened by loud explosions that shattered the doors and windows of her home. "There is nothing left," said Zhabborova, a mother of a five-month-old baby and a five-year-old child. "Just stress and shock." At least 27 locations across Kyiv were hit by the attack, City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said. More than 100 buildings were damaged, including homes, schools, kindergartens, medical facilities and universities, he said. The overnight drone attacks targeted the Kyiv, Dnipro, Poltava, Sumy and Mykolaiv regions, with Ukraine's capital being the primary target, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. "Today, the world once again saw Russia's response to our desire for peace, shared with America and Europe. New, showcase killings. That is why peace without strength is impossible," Zelensky said. He called on Ukraine's allies to follow through on defence commitments and pressure Moscow towards real negotiations. Russia fired 309 Shahed and decoy drones and eight Iskander-K cruise missiles overnight, the Ukrainian air force said. Air defences intercepted and jammed 288 strike drones and three missiles, and five missiles and 21 drones struck targets. Russian troops also struck a residential five-storey building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, regional authorities said. One person was killed, and at least 11 more were injured. Russia's Defence Ministry said it had shot down 32 Ukrainian drones overnight. A drone attack sparked a blaze at an industrial site in Russia's Penza region, local governor Oleg Melnichenko said, adding that there were no casualties. In the Volgograd region, some trains were halted after drone wreckage fell on railway infrastructure, state operator Russian Railways said. Russia's Defence Ministry said that its forces had taken full control of the strategically important city of Chasiv Yar in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. Russian and Ukrainian forces have been fighting for control of Chasiv Yar for nearly 18 months, as it features a strategic hilltop that allows troops to launch attacks on other key locations vital to Ukraine's eastern defences. Victor Trehubov, a Ukrainian military spokesperson, has dismissed Russia's claims as "fabrication," saying the situation in the town remains unchanged. However, Ukraine's Army General Staff said in a report on Thursday that there had been seven clashes in Chasiv Yar in the past 24 hours. An attached map showed most of the town under Russian control. DeepState, an open-source Ukrainian map widely used by the military and analysts, showed early on Thursday that neighbourhoods to the south and west of Chasiv Yar remained uncontrolled by either side. New ultimatum for Putin US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he was giving Russian President Vladimir Putin a shorter deadline for peace efforts to make progress. Trump said if Putin doesn't agree to a ceasefire by August 8, Washington will impose punitive sanctions and tariffs. "Both Russia and Ukraine must negotiate a ceasefire and durable peace. It is time to make a deal. President Trump has made clear this must be done by August 8. The United States is prepared to implement additional measures to secure peace," senior US diplomat John Kelley told the 15-member UN Security Council on Thursday. Kyiv and Moscow have conducted three rounds of talks in Istanbul this year, resulting in exchanges of prisoners and fallen soldiers, but failing to achieve a significant breakthrough to resolve the ongoing conflict that has lasted over three years. Western leaders have accused the Russian president of dragging his feet in US-led peace efforts in an attempt to capture more Ukrainian land. "Forcing Moscow to make peace, compelling them to come to a real negotiating table - all the tools needed for this are in the hands of our partners," Zelensky said Thursday. "We are counting on everything now being voiced by America and Europe toward this goal to be fulfilled," he added.
BreakingNews.ie
17 hours ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Russian missile and drone attacks kill 13 and injure 132 in Kyiv
Russian missile and drone attacks overnight on Ukraine's capital city Kyiv killed at least 13 people, including a six-year-old boy, and wounded 132 others, authorities have said. A five-month-old girl was among 14 children wounded, Ukraine's Emergency Service said. Advertisement It was the highest number of children injured in a single attack on Kyiv since the start of Russia's invasion three years ago, according to public records consulted by The Associated Press. A large part of a nine-storey residential building collapsed in the attack, City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said. Residents at the scene of one Russian strike (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) Rescue teams searched for people trapped under the rubble. Yana Zhabborova, 35, a resident of the damaged building, woke up to the sound of thundering explosions, which blew off the doors and windows of her home. Advertisement 'It is just stress and shock that there is nothing left,' said Ms Zhabborova, a mother of a five-month-old baby and a five-year-old child. Russia fired 309 Shahed and decoy drones and eight Iskander-K cruise missiles overnight, the Ukrainian air force said. Air defences intercepted and jammed 288 strike drones and three missiles, and five missiles and 21 drones struck targets. Russian troops also struck a residential five-storey building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, according to the head of Donetsk regional military administration Vadym Filashkin. He said one person was killed and at least 11 more injured. Advertisement Rescuers work in the rubble of a destroyed apartment building (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) Russia's Ministry of Defence said it had shot down 32 Ukrainian drones overnight. A drone attack sparked a blaze at an industrial site in Russia's Penza region, local governor Oleg Melnichenko said, adding that there were no casualties. In the Volgograd region, some trains were halted after drone wreckage fell on railway infrastructure, state operator Russian Railways said. Russia's Defence Ministry also said that its forces had taken full control of the strategically important city of Chasiv Yar in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region. Advertisement Russian and Ukrainian troops have battled for control of Chasiv Yar for nearly 18 months. It includes a hilltop from which troops can attack other key points in the region that form the backbone of Ukraine's eastern defences. Victor Trehubov, a Ukrainian military spokesperson, told The Associated Press that Russia's claim was untrue. 'Just a fabrication, there wasn't even a change in the situation,' he said. A report on Thursday from Ukraine's Army General Staff said there had been seven clashes in Chasiv Yar in the past 24 hours. An attached map showed most of the town under Russian control. Advertisement Firefighters work to extinguish a fire in Kyiv (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) DeepState, an open-source Ukrainian map widely used by the military and analysts, showed early on Thursday that neighbourhoods to the south and west of Chasiv Yar remained uncontrolled by either side. The overnight drone attacks targeted the Kyiv, Dnipro, Poltava, Sumy and Mykolaiv regions, with Ukraine's capital being the primary target, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. At least 27 locations across Kyiv were hit, Mr Tkachenko said, with the heaviest damage in the Solomianskyi and Sviatoshynskyi districts. More than 100 buildings were damaged in the capital, including homes, schools, nurseries, medical facilities and universities, he added. 'Today, the world once again saw Russia's answer to our desire for peace with America and Europe,' Mr Zelensky said. 'New demonstrative killings. That is why peace without strength is impossible.' He called on Ukraine's allies to follow through on defence commitments and pressure Moscow towards real negotiations. US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he was giving Russian President Vladimir Putin a shorter deadline — August 8 — for peace efforts to make progress, or Washington will impose punitive sanctions and tariffs. Western leaders have accused Mr Putin of dragging his feet in US-led peace efforts in an attempt to capture more Ukrainian land.
New York Times
a day ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Russian Missile and Drone Attack Pummels Kyiv, Killing at Least 6
Russia bombarded the Ukrainian capital with a furious missile and drone attack before dawn on Thursday, killing at least six civilians in an assault that came soon after President Trump had warned Moscow of new sanctions if such violence persisted. Rescuers raced to more than two dozen locations around the capital, Kyiv, to put out fires and search for survivors in the rubble of blasted apartment buildings. 'We have 52 injured, nearly 30 hospitalized,' Tymur Tkachenko, the head of the city's military administration, said in a statement at 7 a.m. local time. 'Among them, nine children were injured.' One child was among the deceased. The number of dead and wounded was likely to grow, Mr. Tkachenko warned. The assault came shortly after President Trump threatened new sanctions on Moscow if President Vladimir V. Putin did not put a halt to the bloodshed in 10 days. Russian officials dismissed the warning, and many in Kyiv saw the bombardment as Mr. Putin's way of thumbing his nose at the United States. The bombardment began around midnight with swarms of drones packed with explosives descending on the city from multiple directions. Tracer fire from heavy machine guns lit up the sky as air defense crews struggled to keep up with the barrage. Drones exploded over city streets as residents raced to find shelter wherever they could. At 3:20 a.m., the Air Force issued an all-clear signal, but the threat quickly resumed at approximately 4:30 a.m. This time, the threat came from ballistic missiles. The sky lit up as they slammed into the city center, with one striking a nine-story apartment building. At least 27 locations around Kyiv were hit in either direct strikes or by falling debris, mainly in the city's Solomianskyi district, the authorities said. President Volodymyr Zelensky shared video footage of one residential building reduced to ruins. 'People are under the rubble,' he wrote. 'All services are on site. Russian terrorists.'
Arab News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
UN Syria envoy warns of national fragmentation following violence in Sweida, Israeli airstrikes
NEW YORK: The Syrian Arab Republic's political transition is under acute strain following a month of spiraling violence, Israeli attacks, mounting civilian casualties, and growing fears of national fragmentation, the UN special envoy for the country warned on Monday. Briefing the UN Security Council on the latest developments, Geir O. Pedersen condemned the outbreak of intercommunal fighting in Sweida and called Israel's airstrikes 'dangerous' and 'unacceptable,' urging all parties to respect Syria's sovereignty and international law. 'This past month has rocked Syria's transition,' he said. 'Mass casualties, foreign intervention and a surge in violations have drained public trust and created new dangers of fragmentation.' Violence erupted on July 12 in Sweida following a cycle of mutual kidnappings that escalated into armed clashes between Druze groups and Bedouin tribes. The deployment of Syrian government forces aimed to restore order but rapidly unraveled amid accusations of serious abuses, including extrajudicial killings and destruction of property. 'Footage of extrajudicial executions, degrading treatment and sectarian incitement circulated widely,' Pedersen said. 'The toll was devastating — hundreds wounded and killed, many of them civilians, particularly from the Druze community.' Amid the chaos, Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting Syrian security forces and Bedouin fighters in Sweida, and later struck near the presidential palace in Damascus. Pedersen denounced the strikes, saying they caused civilian casualties and further inflamed tensions. A second ceasefire was brokered on July 19, bringing a tenuous calm to the region, but Pedersen warned that the situation remains volatile. Approximately 175,000 people have been displaced and humanitarian needs are acute. The UN is seeking unrestricted access to deliver aid and conduct protection work. Pedersen also highlighted reports of widespread abuses during the clashes, allegedly committed by both government-affiliated forces and local armed groups. Violations include arbitrary killings, kidnappings and looting. 'The Ministry of Defense claims the perpetrators were an 'unknown group in uniform,' but accountability is essential,' he said, welcoming recent statements from the Syrian presidency pledging investigations. Pedersen voiced alarm at reports of abductions and disappearances of Druze women during security operations, raising fears of a broader pattern similar to earlier incidents involving Alawite women. He also stressed the need for clear disarmament and security sector reform, warning that the current patchwork of militias and irregular forces is unsustainable. 'The state must act with discipline and professionalism,' he said. 'Syrians need to see state forces as protectors, not threats.' Turning to the broader political process, Pedersen acknowledged that while many Syrians still support the government's transition roadmap, concerns over centralization, lack of transparency and exclusion remain. He said the formation of a new People's Assembly in September could mark a turning point if handled inclusively. 'It is absolutely vital that all Syrian communities and women are fully included, both as electors and candidates,' he stressed, noting concerns that some groups still face marginalization or intimidation. In Idlib, women who protested the violence in Sweida reportedly faced threats of prosecution, online harassment and physical attacks. Efforts to implement a landmark deal between the government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces also remain fraught, Pedersen said. The March 10 agreement aimed to integrate the SDF into state institutions, guarantee constitutional rights for all groups and establishing a nationwide ceasefire. A recent meeting between transitional authorities and the SDF, attended by US and French diplomats, failed to overcome core disagreements. Another round is tentatively planned in Paris. Pedersen concluded with a call for 'flexibility and wisdom' from all Syrian stakeholders. 'If the state is seen as a threat by key constituencies, positions harden,' he warned. 'Likewise, if local leaders reject integration, unity becomes impossible. The Syrian political transition simply cannot fail.' The UN, he affirmed, remains ready to support a Syrian-led, inclusive process that rebuilds trust, ensures accountability and restores the country's sovereignty.
Japan Times
4 days ago
- General
- Japan Times
80 years on, Iwate woman recalls naval bombardment
The city of Kamaishi in Iwate Prefecture is said to have been the first place on Japan's main island of Honshu to suffer a naval bombardment by the Allied powers during World War II. More than 5,000 shells were fired into the northeastern Japan city, which had a large iron mill, on July 17 and Aug. 9, 1945, killing a total of 782 people, mostly civilians. As the bombardments lasted about two hours on both days, Mutsuko Sano, 94, clearly heard the earth rumbling at a school for girls about 30 kilometers away. Sano was 14 years old when she evacuated with others from her hometown in Kamaishi to the school in the neighboring city of Tono in April 1945. After the second attack, more of Sano's classmates evacuated from Kamaishi. She could do nothing but hold devastated friends who had lost relatives. "I want to tell young people now that natural disasters cannot be avoided, but war can," Sano said. Since Kamaishi had a prisoner-of-war camp, Sano often saw lines of prisoners heading to a mine for work. After the war ended, however, she saw them whistling as they walked through town, a scene that made her fully realize her country's defeat. When Sano returned to Kamaishi with her father, she saw burned ruins everywhere, with the five chimneys of the ironworks, which used to be a symbol of the city, bent miserably. Around Kamaishi Station, there were several craters formed as a result of the bombardments. "It was complete hell," Sano said. "I wish the war had ended earlier." Sano has lived in Kamaishi for 80 years since the end of the war, witnessing the rise and fall of her hometown. The city began to recover in the 1950s, led by its steel and fishery industries, but was again devastated by the massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. "The city remains deserted now," she said. "Why should we experience such misery again?" Still, she keeps busy working for the town, making her wartime experiences into a booklet and sharing her story through lectures. "People can't resist a tsunami, but war can be avoided," she emphasized. "We must never start a war."
