Overnight Russian attacks on the Kyiv region have left three people dead, among them a child, according to local authorities. The strikes targeted three sites in the Brovary district, just east of the Ukrainian capital, and also wounded three other people.
Timur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration, said on Telegram that falling debris damaged a private house, outbuildings and cars, and that a fire broke out at a non-residential building. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (DSNS) shared images on social media showing flames engulfing what appeared to be warehouses and garages.
In the capital itself, at least four people were injured in a separate attack, the Kyiv City Military Administration reported. Firefighters battled blazes in the Holosiivskyi and Obolon districts, with DSNS posting photos of burning structures. The extent of the damage was still being assessed on Saturday morning.
Further north, a Russian drone strike on the Chernihiv region sparked a warehouse fire in the Pryluky district. No casualties have been reported there so far.
Zelenskyy in Belgrade
The attacks came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Serbia for talks with President Aleksandar Vučić and Prime Minister Đuro Macut. According to Zelenskyy, the discussions will focus on expanding economic ties, relations with the European Union, and security issues.
The visit marks a rare trip by a Ukrainian leader to Serbia, a country that has maintained close ties with Moscow while also seeking EU membership. The meeting underscores Ukraine's efforts to shore up support across the Western Balkans, a region where Russian influence remains significant.
US Senate passes new sanctions
On Friday, the US Senate approved a sweeping new round of sanctions against Russia, a bill championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The legislation is designed to punish Moscow and any countries that purchase its oil and natural gas, targeting Russian energy revenues that fund the war effort.
The move comes as the EU channels €1.4 billion from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, following a series of deadly strikes on Ukrainian cities. The bloc has also targeted five more Russians over attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has struck Russian refineries in recent weeks, part of a broader campaign to disrupt Moscow's military logistics. The overnight attacks on the Kyiv region, however, show that Russian forces continue to target civilian areas with drones and missiles.
The repeated strikes on Kyiv and its surroundings have raised concerns across Europe about the resilience of Ukraine's air defences. Europe's defence shift is testing the bloc's four neutral states, as governments reconsider their security postures in light of the ongoing war.
As the conflict enters its third year, the human toll continues to mount. Each night brings new reports of deaths and injuries, often among civilians. The international community's response, through sanctions and financial aid, has so far failed to deter Moscow from its campaign against Ukrainian cities.
