Russia and Ukraine trade strikes ahead of US diplomatic visits

Russia and Ukraine continued exchanging strikes overnight ahead of visits by American envoys assessing peace proposals. Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine killed at least four people and injured over a dozen others, while Ukrainian drone strikes hit targets in Russia, including an oil refinery, Belgorod, and Sochi.

The escalation coincides with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's planned visit to the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly and meet US President Donald Trump. Although Trump claimed both nations agreed to refrain from targeting energy infrastructure, Zelenskyy stipulated that Kyiv would comply only if Western partners guarantee Moscow stops hitting Ukrainian energy facilities, food supply lines, and transport networks. Meanwhile, European Union diplomatic chief Kaja Kallas and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned a Russian strike near the Polish border as an attempt to intimidate European allies.

Sources: Avaz, Beta, CDM, N1, Vijesti