Russia hammers Ukraine’s capital ahead of Trump-Zelenskyy meeting
Al Jazeera
Zelenskyy accuses Russia’s leadership of using ‘every opportunity’ to inflict ‘greater suffering’ on Ukraine.
Russia has carried out drone and missile strikes on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on the eve of a key meeting between the United States and Ukrainian leaders, killing at least one person and leaving a third of the city without heat, according to local authorities.
Russian ballistic missiles and drones rocked Kyiv from the early hours of Saturday morning, where an air alert was in place for nearly 10 hours.
The attacks killed a 47-year-old woman and wounded at least 22 others, according to Kyiv’s mayor and regional governor. Among those wounded were two children, said the head of Kyiv’s City military administration, Tymur Tkachenko.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attack was “still ongoing” as of 10:45am (08:45 GMT), with some 500 drones and 40 missiles launched targeting “energy facilities and civilian infrastructure”. The air raid alert for the capital ended at 11:20am local time (09:20 GMT).
In addition to the casualties, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said there was no heat in one-third of the capital, where temperatures hovered around freezing (0 degrees Celsius).
Algeria’s new law declares French colonial rule a crime, seeking accountability and reparations for the colonial past.
Sahel countries launch a joint battalion to fight armed groups as they boost ties with Russia amid rising insecurity.
Injuries reported in ongoing violence on both sides of the border ahead of negotiations over the renewed fighting.
Venezuela’s UN ambassador denounces US military strikes, naval blockade at a meeting of the UN Security Council.
Government of President Nicolas Maduro denounces US seizure of oil tankers as illegal acts of piracy.
Libya’s PM confirms that four other Libyan passengers also died after the plane crashed shortly after takeoff.
Lawyers of the group threaten court proceedings as top ministers refuse to meet them to discuss the protesters’ welfare.
Tensions high as an end-of-year deadline to incorporate the Kurdish-led SDF into the Syrian armed forces approaches.
At least two people killed in clashes in northern city of Aleppo during Turkish FM Fidan’s visit to Syria.
Latest threat comes as US Coast Guard continues to pursue a third oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
Investigators say the possibility that the attack is linked to Ukrainian special forces is one line of inquiry.
Copenhagen slams Jeff Landry’s statement regarding annexation of the territory as ‘totally unacceptable’.
Fighting has resumed hours before the countries’ foreign ministers meet in Malaysia to discuss steps to de-escalate.