Ukraine and Russia exchange deadly aerial strikes as Zelensky rejects Donbas retreat
Heavy Russian strikes hit Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia as Ukrainian drones target Russian regions, while Zelensky rules out a Donbas withdrawal.
Russian forces conducted heavy strikes across Ukraine, killing at least 17 people in Kyiv and injuring dozens with guided glide bombs in Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that additional interceptor missiles could have saved lives, adding that Moscow relocated military assets to build three air defense rings around Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
Concurrently, Ukrainian drone strikes targeted Russian positions in Belgorod, Crimea, and near Moscow, leaving several civilians dead and injured. Zelensky affirmed that Ukraine would not voluntarily withdraw from Donbas, expecting strong post-war security guarantees from Washington. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump warned against sharing sensitive American weapons secrets. Separately, an Italian naval vessel intercepted a Russian shadow fleet tanker off Pantelleria.
Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica, La Stampa.
Sources
- La Stampa — Drone su una spiaggia vicino al Palazzo Putin: in tutto 11 morti nei raid di Kiev, fra loro 3 bimbi
- Corriere della Sera — Guerra Ucraina-Russia, le notizie in diretta | Zelensky: «Safary con droni russi sui civili a Kherson». Raid ucraino alla periferia di Mosca: cinque morti e sei feriti
- ANSA — Ucraina: raid russi su Kiev, almeno 17 morti. Zelensky: 'Con gli intercettori sarebbero vivi'
- La Repubblica — Guerra Ucraina - Russia, le news di oggi. Allarme droni a Kiev e Dnipro, udite esplosioni. Attacco ucraino su Belgorod, 13 feriti tra cui 2 bambini
- Il Messaggero — Russia, schierati tre anelli di difesa aerea su Mosca e San Pietroburgo. Zelensky: «Ma le munizioni prima o poi finiscono»
Earlier coverage
- Aug 29, 2026, 02:00 PM UTCUkrainian drone strikes target Russian regions as cross-border attacks intensify
- Aug 29, 2026, 11:30 AM UTCKyiv urges air defense support amid deadly Russian strikes and Ukrainian counterattacks
- Aug 28, 2026, 08:00 PM UTCRussian strikes hit Kyiv as Ukraine counterattacks near Moscow and Crimea
- Aug 28, 2026, 06:30 AM UTCRussian strikes kill 17 in Kyiv as Ukrainian drone attacks hit border regions
- Aug 27, 2026, 08:30 PM UTCRussian raids hit Kyiv while Ukrainian drones target Russian regions
- Aug 27, 2026, 02:00 PM UTCRussian strikes hit Kyiv as long-range attacks escalate across both borders
- Aug 27, 2026, 01:30 PM UTCRussia and Ukraine exchange strikes as Zelensky rules out Donbas withdrawal
- Aug 27, 2026, 11:30 AM UTCUkraine faces heavy Russian raids as reciprocal strikes target Moscow
- Aug 27, 2026, 05:30 AM UTCRussian strikes hit Kyiv as cross-border aerial attacks escalate
- Aug 26, 2026, 06:30 PM UTCCross-border strikes intensify as Russia reinforces air defenses around major cities