By Loveth Henry
National News – At least 15 people have been killed and about 100 others injured in a fresh wave of Russian attacks across Ukraine, including a deadly ballistic missile strike on a drone technology exhibition near the capital, Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 10 people were killed when Russian missiles struck the exhibition, which was attended by prominent figures in Ukraine’s defence and technology sectors. Emergency responders rushed to the scene to rescue victims trapped under rubble and extinguish fires triggered by the attack.
In eastern Ukraine, five more people were killed after Russian glide bombs hit the city of Sloviansk. Ukrainian military officials also confirmed that two men lost their lives in separate attacks in the northern city of Sumy early Saturday.
The latest strikes came as President Zelensky warned that intelligence reports suggested Russia could launch another large-scale missile assault within the next 48 hours.
Russia acknowledged carrying out the strike near Kyiv, claiming it targeted a facility where drone technologies allegedly used to attack civilian sites in Russia were being demonstrated. The Russian Defence Ministry said the site was hosting drone manufacturers as well as members of Ukraine’s security and drone forces involved in planning operations against Russian territory.
The attack has sparked criticism within Ukraine over the decision to hold and publicly advertise such an event during an ongoing war. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine who authorised the exhibition and whether adequate security measures were put in place.
Several high-profile Ukrainian defence experts, including military adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov, popularly known as “Flash,” and technology developer Lyuba Shypovych, later confirmed they were unharmed. Beskrestnov said he chose not to attend because of security concerns.
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia fired three ballistic missiles during the attack, with only one intercepted by air defence systems.
Meanwhile, Ukraine also intensified its own operations inside Russian territory. Ukrainian officials said strikes targeted a major military-industrial facility in the Russian city of Kirov, reportedly involved in producing aircraft and missile components. The attack allegedly killed six people and injured 26.
Kyiv also claimed responsibility for attacks on warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer. Ukrainian officials said the facilities were targeted because they could be used to supply equipment to the Russian military, expanding Ukraine’s campaign beyond oil depots and fuel infrastructure to logistics hubs.
Diplomatic activity is also expected to intensify in the coming days. President Zelensky is scheduled to travel to the United States next week, where he is expected to meet President Donald Trump as Washington seeks to revive efforts toward a negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia.
Elsewhere, Romanian President Nicusor Dan announced that a Romanian F-16 fighter jet shot down a Russian drone after it violated the country’s airspace on Friday, following air raid alerts issued across eastern and south-eastern Romania.
The latest exchange of attacks underscores the continuing escalation of the conflict, with both Russia and Ukraine expanding the range and intensity of operations far beyond the front lines.
