Russian Drone Strike Kills Three Near Kyiv Amid Escalating Cross-Border Attacks
Escalation of Attacks and Civilian Casualties in Ukraine and Russia
Fatal Drone Strikes Near Kyiv
KYIV, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Russian drones killed a three-year-old boy and his grandparents in a village in the Kyiv region, and another person was killed during an overnight ballistic attack on the capital, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday.
Intensified Attacks and Strategic Targets
Russia in recent months has intensified attacks on Kyiv, while Ukraine has targeted Russian oil facilities and logistics infrastructure to try to undermine Moscow's ability to wage war.
Both Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilians in their attacks.
Russia launched six ballistic missiles and 151 drones at Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian air force said.
Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Oil Refineries
The Ukrainian general staff also said on Saturday its military hit Russia's Ilsky and Syzran oil refineries during overnight attacks, causing fires at both.
Local authorities also said five people were wounded in Russia's Krasnodar region in southern Russia following a Ukrainian drone attack.
Ukraine's Air Defence Challenges
Shortage of Air Defence Missiles
UKRAINE'S SHORTAGE OF AIR DEFENCE MISSILES
"Europe, America, and Ukraine have long wanted to stop this Russian war," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram app.
"Only (Russian President Vladimir) Putin doesn’t want to, and he’s desperately clinging to his ballistic missiles and drones to keep the war going. More pressure is needed."
International Support and Zelenskiy's Diplomacy
Zelenskiy is in Serbia, making his first visit to the Balkan country, which like Ukraine is seeking European Union membership.
The president has been pressing for extra help as the country is chronically short of air defence missiles for U.S. Patriot systems. The defence ministry said that only 29 out of 195 ballistic missiles were intercepted in July.
Recent Air Defence Performance
Ukrainian air defences downed 135 drones, but they were not able to intercept ballistic missiles, the Ukrainian air force said on Saturday.
Damage and Impact on Civilians
Destruction in Brovarskyi District
Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv regional administration, said Russian strikes were recorded at three locations in the Brovarskyi district, near the capital. In the region, 10 private houses, commercial and production facilities had been damaged.
Tragedy in Puhivka Village
One of the private houses in the village of Puhivka, about 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) from Kyiv, was set on fire after Russian drones killed the child and his grandparents. His parents and his 15-year-old brother and their neighbour were wounded, Zelenskiy said.
Fires and Explosions in Kyiv
In Kyiv, fires were reported in three districts, officials said. Commercial premises and warehouses were damaged.
Reuters witnesses heard several powerful explosions that shook the centre of the city.
Battlefield Developments
Russia's Defence Ministry said on Saturday Russian forces had taken control of the settlement of Ivanivka in Ukraine's Kharkiv region.
Reuters could not independently confirm the battlefield report. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Dan Flynn and Olena Harmash; Editing by Barbara Lewis)
