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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Holly Evans

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Eight killed after Kyiv launches hundreds of drones in mass attack

Ukraine launched a huge drone attack on Russia overnight on Saturday, killing eight people as they fired at least 635 drones at targets including a Wildberries warehouse, Russian officials said.

Kyiv has attacked about a dozen Wildberries sites since July 18 in a bid to disrupt the operations of the company, a linchpin of the consumer economy that Kyiv says helps bolster Vladimir Putin’s war machine.

A Wildberries site in the Samara region, around 800 km (500 miles) from Ukraine's most advanced military positions, was attacked, Samara governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev.

Russia's Defence Ministry said it downed 635 Ukrainian drones during the night. Moscow does not typically reveal the total number of projectiles fired by Ukraine.

It comes after at least five people have been killed and 21 injured after a woman brought a homemade bomb near a central Moscow restaurant, according to Russian officials.

The explosion, which occurred at around 7:55pm local time (5:55pm BST), occurred near an upscale Italian restaurant located in one of Moscow's seven Stalin-era skyscrapers at Kudrinkskaya Square, police said.

The Kommersant daily newspaper cited sources as saying that the bomb had been intended to maim and kill guests at a private event on the terrace.

Key Points

  • At least eight killed in mass Ukrainian drone attack on Russia
  • Death toll of Moscow restaurant explosion rises to five
  • Three killed and 21 injured after a woman brought a homemade bomb to restaurant
  • Moscow mayor calls Saturday's deadly bomb attack on restaurant a 'terrorist act'
  • Russia fired a record number of missiles at Ukraine in July

At least eight killed in mass Ukrainian drone attack on Russia

23:19 , Alex Croft

At least eight people in Russian regions overnight and on Sunday, after Kyiv launched at least 635 drones in a mass attack.

Among the targets was a warehouse belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, regional officials said.

Russia's Defence Ministry said it downed 635 Ukrainian drones during the night. Moscow does not typically reveal the total number of projectiles fired by Ukraine.

The acting governor of Russia's border region of Belgorod, Alexander Shuvayev, said a Ukrainian drone struck an area next to a playground, killing one child and injuring two.

Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's commissioner for children's rights, was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying that the strike was "another inhumane terrorist act" by Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ukraine's drones attacked a Wildberries warehouse in the Samara region, around 800 km (500 miles) from Ukraine's most advanced military positions, Samara Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said. Fedorishchev said there were no casualties and that a fire that broke out as a result of the attack was being put out.

Smoke rises after a Ukrainian drone attack on a Wildberries warehouse (Reuters)
Smoke rises after a Ukrainian drone attack on a Wildberries warehouse (Reuters)

Death toll of Moscow restaurant explosion rises to five

23:04 , Alex Croft

Russian authorities have increased the death toll of the explosion in Moscow’s Balzi Rossi restaurant to five.

Two people died in hospital following the explosion, Radio Liberty’s Russian Service said according to Ukrainska Pravda, after three deaths had originally been reported by Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee.

Another six people are in a serious condition, it said.

As millions jet off on holiday, meet the men choosing to go to a warzone with total strangers

23:00 , Holly Evans

t’s hard to travel off the beaten track any more. Thanks to social media, no site is unseen, no viewpoint unphotographed, and no hidden gem concealed for long. According to the World Tourism Barometer, this is pushing more of us to holiday further afield – Brazil, Curaçao and Uzbekistan saw some of the largest increases in visitor numbers last year.

But some are willing to take things further than others. For four years, one group has seen plenty of new sights – by driving into an active warzone.

Ukrainian Action, a charity set up after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, has just sent its 500th vehicle full of aid and equipment across Europe to support Ukrainians in need on and off the front line. With Russian airstrikes actively targeting ordinary homes, civilian businesses, and infrastructure facilities with ballistic missiles and drones, killing at least 26 people, including four children, in separate attacks this week, Ukraine is a highly volatile place to be.

Read the full article here:

As millions jet off on holiday, meet the men going to a warzone with total strangers

Zelensky asks for Trump’s help to win Elon Musk’s approval for Starlink drones plan

22:00 , Holly Evans

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Donald Trump and other American officials to facilitate Ukraine's access to Elon Musk's Starlink satellite communications system for guiding strikes within Russian territory.

This push for expanded Starlink capabilities emerges as Kyiv seeks alternative strategies to reduce its reliance on US Patriot air defence systems, crucial for countering Russia's relentless missile and drone assaults.

The availability of these interceptors is dwindling amid the ongoing conflict involving the US and Israel against Iran, with Mr Trump reportedly stepping back from a recent pledge to grant Ukraine a licence for their production.

Read the full article here:

Zelensky asks Trump to help Elon Musk approve Starlink drones plan

Drone fragments fell in Romanian territory near Ukraine border

21:00 , Holly Evans

Fragments of a drone shot down by Ukraine ⁠near its Danube river border fell on Romanian national ⁠territory on ​a ⁠farm field near the ⁠village of Periprava without ​causing ⁠any damage, ‌Romania's Defence Ministry said on Sunday.

The drone ‌had previously ‌spent 20 minutes in Romanian ⁠air space before flying into Ukraine, the ministry said without specifying its origin. Romanian F-16 fighter ‌jets shot down three ​Russian drones ‌breaching national ⁠airspace over ⁠three consecutive days in ‌late ​July.

What is Wildberries?

20:00 , Holly Evans

In recent weeks, Ukraine has been turning its attention to attacking large warehouses owned by Wildberries.

Wildberries is Russia's largest online marketplace. It has been called the country's equivalent of Amazon, as its business model resembles a mix of Amazon Marketplace, eBay, and Temu.

Founded in 2004 by Tatyana Kim, who is now Russia's richest woman, the company has since become the dominant e-commerce platform in Russia and several neighbouring countries.

Hosting millions of third-party sellers, the platform sells almost everything, from electronics to groceries. The marketplace features clothes, books, cosmetics, toys, appliances, household items, sports gear and much more. There’s an “E-Pharmacy” page and a travel section for booking plane tickets or hotels.

Smoke rises after a Ukrainian drone attack on a Wildberries warehouse (Reuters)
Smoke rises after a Ukrainian drone attack on a Wildberries warehouse (Reuters)

It operates a vast network of warehouses, sorting centres, and logistics hubs across Russia.

In 2021, Kim acquired a small bank and turned it into what now is Wildberries Bank, but that institution has since come under sanctions by the U.K. and the European Union.

Now, its facilities are being deliberately targeted by Ukrainian drones.

Moscow attack occurred after Russia tightens security around top officials

19:00 , Holly Evans

Earlier this year, Russia's Federal Security Service announced that authorities would tighten security around senior military and government officials, after a series of assassination attempts in Russian cities that followed the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

So far, Russian authorities have not drawn any connections between Saturday's blast and these earlier attacks or the war in Ukraine.

Russia previously said Kyiv was behind a car bombing in Moscow last April that killed Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, a deputy head of the main operational department in Russia's General Staff.

Ukraine did not publicly claim responsibility.

But Ukraine's SBU security service earlier said it had organized the killing in December 2024 of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, who headed the Russian military's nuclear, biological and chemical protection forces.

Kirillov was killed by a bomb hidden in a scooter outside his apartment building in Moscow, a day after Ukraine's security service leveled criminal charges against him.

Why is Ukraine attacking ships in the Caspian Sea?

18:00 , Holly Evans

Ukraine officials have claimed the Iranian vessel was carrying components for drones and missiles from Iran to Russia, but Tehran claimed the vessel was “entirely civilian” and was carrying “no military cargo”.

Iran is a major supplier of weapons to Russia with its Shahed drones. In August 2024, Ukraine attacked a cargo vessel in the Caspian Sea, destroying a ship reportedly loaded with Shahed-136 drone components and Iranian munitions.

But former British army officer and weapons expert Hamish de Bretton-Gordon believes that Ukraine’s most recent attack on the Caspian Sea is a “message to Trump” first and foremost.

He argued that by executing an attack around 500 miles away from Kyiv, Ukraine is demonstrating its capability and showing the US president how it can help take on Iran.

He told The Independent: “Ukraine is trying to show Trump that the Russians are helping Iran out. Ukraine is demonstrating that they can prevent that and help with Trump’s Iran problem, but the US needs to help Ukraine in return.”

Inside the camp in Italy helping Ukraine’s traumatised children

17:00 , Holly Evans

The thunderous explosions of Russian Grad rocket launchers, staccato blasts of approaching gunfire, and the screeching whirr of air raid sirens have been the soundtrack to Yevhen and Vlad’s childhoods during four years of war in Ukraine.

Both teenagers have suffered immensely as a result of Russia’s invasion, recalling to The Independent their grim personal anecdotes including a civilian minibus torn to shreds by Russian gunfire, the kidnapping of family members, and the destruction of their home towns.

Now, for the first time since 2022, the 17-year-olds no longer need fear the sound of a passing aircraft, tucked safely away in the Italian coastal town of Lignano Pineta alongside 30 others, for a camp aimed at alleviating the psychological toll of war for Ukrainian children.

Read the full article here:

Ukraine’s traumatised children in holiday camp dread return to brutal reality of war

Italian-led EU force boards sanctioned tanker from Russia's 'shadow fleet' in Mediterranean

16:00 , Holly Evans

An EU mission led ​by Italy boarded a tanker belonging to Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" on Sunday to verify its nationality and flag registration, Italy's Defence Ministry said.

It ⁠was not immediately clear whether the vessel had been detained while the checks were carried out.

The ministry said the Toa Payoh, a tanker under EU sanctions that ⁠was sailing under ​the flag ⁠of Cameroon, had been intercepted in the Mediterranean, west of the Italian island ⁠of Pantelleria, while travelling from Benin to Istanbul.

The ship's ​captain ⁠initially failed to ‌cooperate, prompting a team of Italian military personnel to board the vessel from a helicopter launched by ‌the Thaon di Revel, flagship ‌of the EU's EUNAVFOR MED Irini operation.

The inspection, carried out with the support of a Greek vessel and a Polish ⁠maritime patrol aircraft, lasted about two hours and was completed safely, the ministry said.

Italian authorities were examining documentation obtained during the inspection.

Mapped: Where is the current Ukraine frontline?

15:00 , Holly Evans

View more

Watch: At least 3 dead after IED explodes near Moscow cafe

14:00 , Holly Evans

Zelensky asks for Trump’s help to win Elon Musk’s approval for Starlink drones plan

13:00 , Holly Evans

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Donald Trump and other American officials to facilitate Ukraine's access to Elon Musk's Starlink satellite communications system for guiding strikes within Russian territory.

This push for expanded Starlink capabilities emerges as Kyiv seeks alternative strategies to reduce its reliance on US Patriot air defence systems, crucial for countering Russia's relentless missile and drone assaults.

The availability of these interceptors is dwindling amid the ongoing conflict involving the US and Israel against Iran, with Mr Trump reportedly stepping back from a recent pledge to grant Ukraine a licence for their production.

Read the full article here:

Zelensky asks Trump to help Elon Musk approve Starlink drones plan

Moscow mayor calls Saturday's deadly bomb attack on restaurant a 'terrorist act'

12:21 , Holly Evans

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin called the bomb attack on a restaurant in the capital a "brutal terrorist act," but did not say who was responsible.

"Yesterday, a brutal terrorist act was committed in Moscow that claimed human lives. The victims are currently in the city's hospitals, where they are receiving all necessary care," Sobyanin wrote on social media.

The blast on Saturday evening killed a security guard and a guest, as well as the woman bomber, Russian state media said, citing local officials.

At least 21 people were also wounded when the explosive device detonated at the restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square in central Moscow, the National Anti-Terrorism Committee said, quoted by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

The attack was still being investigated, the Moscow Investigative Committee told the news agency on Saturday evening.

As of early afternoon on Sunday, there was no further information from Russian authorities, and no one had publicly claimed responsibility.

Watch: ‘Scared’ British tourist in Poland films moment air raid sirens sound during Russian strikes in Ukraine

12:00 , Holly Evans

Why Ukraine is targeting Russia’s ‘Amazon’ Wildberries with major strikes

11:00 , Holly Evans

Ukraine launched a wave of drone strikes deep into Russia this week, hitting a major logistics hub belonging to e-commerce Wildberries in the Ryazan region.

Ukrainian drones struck two more warehouses belonging to Russian online retailer Wildberries overnight on Thursday, sparking fires at both sites, the company and a regional official said.

Ukraine has attacked about a dozen Wildberries sites since July 18 in a bid to disrupt the operations of the company, a linchpin of the consumer economy that is often described as Russia's answer to Amazon. Kyiv accused the firm of helping to bolster Vladimir Putin’s war machine.

Read the full analysis here:

Why Ukraine is targeting Russia’s ‘Amazon’ Wildberries with major strikes

Zelensky calls for US and Europe to approve Patriot missiles package

10:00 , Holly Evans

Volodymyr Zelensky has called for anti-ballistic missiles to be given to Ukraine instead of sitting “in stockpiles”.

The Ukrainian president has issued his plea to Europe and the United States, as he requests further sanctions to stop Russia from producing ballistic weapons.

In a post on social media, he said: “The world has Patriot missiles. What matters now is for our partners to make the political decision to provide the necessary packages.

“The United States knows what we need. Europe knows what we need. Anti-ballistic missiles must protect people – not sit in stockpiles. And every day without this vital assistance gives Russia another chance to kill our people.

:And right now, the response must also include additional and real sanctions.”

Ripped from their families and shipped to Russia: The tragic story of Ukraine’s children

09:00 , Holly Evans

Sofia is an 11-year-old Ukrainian girl with scars on her face and light brown hair in a ponytail. She recalls vividly what happened when Russian troops entered her village.

“They took the 16-year-old girls to their place,” she recounts tearfully. “When the girls came back, their clothes were torn. Everything was torn. The Russians behaved badly with those girls.

“Everyone was panicking. We didn’t know what to do, where to go. The Russians came to my house. They checked my toys, my hairpins, and my clothes… They threatened my parents. They had weapons. If you say anything, they might kill you.”

Read the full article here:

Ripped from their families and sent to Russia: The tragic story of Ukraine’s children

Ukraine says it struck oil refinery and air base in Russia's Saratov region

08:52 , Holly Evans

Ukrainian forces have attacked the Saratov ⁠oil refinery in southwestern Russia and ⁠the ​Engels military ⁠air base in ⁠the same ​region, ⁠Kyiv's military ‌said on Sunday.

In a statement, ‌the General ‌Staff said the strikes ⁠had sparked fires at both facilities. It said its forces had ‌also struck an ​oil ‌depot in ⁠the western ⁠Kaluga region.

Explosion in Moscow restaurant caused by an IED

08:00 , Holly Evans

The explosion was caused by an IED which was detonated remotely, Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee has said.

Three people were killed and 21 otheres were injured after an "improvised explosive device" exploded at a restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square, one of the seven skyscraper towers built by Stalin.

It said the three people who died were:

  • A security guard who stopped the unidentified woman from entering the building with the explosive device
  • the woman
  • a visitor

The Russian newspaper Kommersant said it was likely the woman was unaware of the contents of the parcel.

Quoting its own sources, Kommersant said the targets were guests on the restaurant's outdoor summer terrace.

As millions jet off on holiday, meet the men choosing to go to a warzone with total strangers

07:23 , Holly Evans

It’s hard to travel off the beaten track any more. Thanks to social media, no site is unseen, no viewpoint unphotographed, and no hidden gem concealed for long. According to the World Tourism Barometer, this is pushing more of us to holiday further afield – Brazil, Curaçao and Uzbekistan saw some of the largest increases in visitor numbers last year.

But some are willing to take things further than others. For four years, one group has seen plenty of new sights – by driving into an active warzone.

Ukrainian Action, a charity set up after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, has just sent its 500th vehicle full of aid and equipment across Europe to support Ukrainians in need on and off the front line. With Russian airstrikes actively targeting ordinary homes, civilian businesses, and infrastructure facilities with ballistic missiles and drones, killing at least 26 people, including four children, in separate attacks this week, Ukraine is a highly volatile place to be.

Read the full article here:

As millions jet off on holiday, meet the men going to a warzone with total strangers

Pictures: Cleanup and rescue operations completed in Kyiv after Russian attack

06:45 , Shweta Sharma

Emergency services in Kyiv have completed rescue and recovery operations following Russia's attack overnight into Saturday, with officials confirming that nine people were killed and 33 others injured.

A total of 206 emergency personnel and 42 pieces of equipment were deployed to respond to the aftermath of the strike.

Communal workers clear trash outside a multi-storey residential building damaged following massive Russian ballistic missile strikes in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv (AFP/Getty)
Communal workers clear trash outside a multi-storey residential building damaged following massive Russian ballistic missile strikes in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv (AFP/Getty)
A resident looks at a crater at a site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv region, Ukraine (Reuters)
A resident looks at a crater at a site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv region, Ukraine (Reuters)
A local resident holds her dog as she examines a broken car parked outside a multi-storey residential building (AFP/Getty)
A local resident holds her dog as she examines a broken car parked outside a multi-storey residential building (AFP/Getty)

Russia fired a record number of missiles at Ukraine in July

06:20 , Shweta Sharma

Russia fired a record 376 missiles at Ukraine in July, according to an AFP analysis of Ukrainian air force data.

According to reports published by Kyiv’s air force, Russia has launched more than twice the number of missiles at Ukraine in July than in June.

A significant number of these attacks targeted Kyiv, which saw some of the deadliest strikes.

Russia also fired 4,956 long-range drones at Ukraine during the month, down 14 per cent on June.

Moscow attack that killed three in pictures

05:50 , Shweta Sharma

Pictures showed emergency services and heavily armed security personnel surrounding the blast site outside the Balzi Rossi restaurant in central Moscow.

Three people were killed and at least 21 injured after a bomb exploded outside an upscale Italian restaurant on Saturday evening.

A woman allegedly tried to take the IED into a restaurant (Reuters)
A woman allegedly tried to take the IED into a restaurant (Reuters)
The bomb was brought near an upscale Italian restaurant (AP)
The bomb was brought near an upscale Italian restaurant (AP)
Law enforcement officers and emergency services personnel work at the site of an explosion at a restaurant in central Moscow, Russia (Reuters)
Law enforcement officers and emergency services personnel work at the site of an explosion at a restaurant in central Moscow, Russia (Reuters)
RUSIA-EXPLOSIÓN (AP)
RUSIA-EXPLOSIÓN (AP)

Ukraine says it struck Russian container ship in Black Sea

05:30 , Shweta Sharma

Ukraine struck a sanctioned Russian-flagged container ship in the Black Sea, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X.

The vessel, Yanina, has a capacity of more than 100,000 metric tonnes and was targeted during Ukrainian operations in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov using domestically produced "middle-strike" weapons, Zelensky said.

"Our targets are consistently defined facilities that sustain the war effort," he wrote, adding: "Grateful to Ukrainian warriors who are bringing the war back to Russia and responding to its attacks against life."

Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom confirmed the strike, saying the ship was hit by two Ukrainian naval drones in international waters about 130 nautical miles from the Russian port of Novorossiysk.

Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev said all 17 crew members were rescued.

How the Moscow restaurant attack unfolded

05:21 , Shweta Sharma

A bomb explosion near an upscale Italian restaurant in central Moscow killed three people and injured at least 21 on Saturday evening in what Russian authorities described as a terrorist attack.

The blast occurred shortly before 8pm local time outside the Balzi Rossi restaurant at Kudrinskaya Square, one of Moscow's landmark Stalin-era skyscrapers.

Russia's Anti-Terrorism Committee said an unidentified woman attempted to enter the restaurant but was stopped by a security guard. Moments later, the explosive device she was carrying detonated.

Law enforcement officers and emergency services personnel work at the site of an explosion at a restaurant in central Moscow (Reuters)
Law enforcement officers and emergency services personnel work at the site of an explosion at a restaurant in central Moscow (Reuters)

The woman, the security guard and a restaurant customer were killed in the explosion, while at least 21 others suffered injuries of varying severity, according to police.

State news agency RIA Novosti published footage showing heavily armed security forces securing the area after the blast. Authorities cordoned off the scene and launched an investigation but did not identify the victims or say who they believed was behind the attack.

Russian newspaper Kommersant, citing unnamed sources, reported that investigators believe the bomb was intended to target guests seated on the restaurant's outdoor terrace. The newspaper said the device may have been detonated remotely and that the woman carrying it may not have known it contained explosives. These reports have not been independently verified.

Russian oil refinery and military airbase struck - reports

05:06 , Shweta Sharma

Ukrainian drones struck a Russian military airbase in the city of Engels and an oil refinery in nearby Saratov overnight, according to Russian officials and monitoring channels, with regional authorities saying two people were killed.

Explosions were reported at the Engels airbase, while a fire broke out at the Saratov oil refinery after it was hit by drones, Kyiv Independent reported, citing a Telegram monitoring channel Exilenova Plus.

Saratov region Governor Roman Busargin said two people were killed in the attacks and that civilian infrastructure in both cities was damaged. He did not specify whether the deaths occurred at the military or industrial sites.

The reports could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate comment from the Ukrainian military.

Lithuania condemns Russian strike near embassy, calls it 'campaign of terror'

05:00 , Shweta Sharma

Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda condemned Russia's latest attack on Kyiv after a missile exploded just steps from Lithuania's embassy, damaging the building but causing no injuries to embassy staff.

"This is yet another reminder that Russia's terror knows no limits. And that Ukraine is defending not only its own people, but the security of all Europe," Nauseda said, urging allies to provide Ukraine with more modern air defence systems.

The interior of a damaged building that houses the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Ukraine, after a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, (Reuters)
The interior of a damaged building that houses the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Ukraine, after a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, (Reuters)

Lithuania's foreign ministry said it will summon a Russian representative in Vilnius over the strike.

Foreign minister Kęstutis Budrys said Russia's "campaign of terror" showed no willingness to seek peace.

"The Kremlin’s objective remains the same: destruction, death and intimidation. The response is clear: increase pressure on Russia through stronger sanctions and step up support for Ukraine," Budrys said.

What we know about Russia's missile salvo that killed nine people

04:30 , Shweta Sharma

At least nine people were killed and 30 others injured after Russia launched another barrage of ballistic missiles on Kyiv yesterday.

The attack marked the second large-scale Russian strike in just 48 hours.

Ukraine's State Emergency Service (DSNS) said rescue operations were ongoing, with a total of 105 people rescued from damaged buildings.

Fires broke out, while residential buildings and industrial sites were damaged across at least five districts of the city.

Books burn at the site of a book warehouse hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine (Reuters)
Books burn at the site of a book warehouse hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine (Reuters)

President Volodymyr Zelensky said 18 residential buildings, a school, the Lithuanian embassy and critical infrastructure were among the sites damaged in the attacks.

Ukraine's Air Force said Russia fired a total of 35 missiles, including 27 ballistic missiles, as well as 85 Shahed-type drones overnight.

Only two missiles were intercepted, while 154 drones were shot down.

"Only one ballistic missile was shot down tonight simply because there are no missiles for the Patriots," Zelensky said.

"And it is precisely this shortage of interceptors against ballistic missiles that only encourages Russia to launch such strikes against life."

Crimean families queue for hot meals as Ukraine hits power supply

03:54 , Shweta Sharma

Residents in the Russian-occupied Crimean town of Massandra queued for free hot meals as prolonged power outages caused by Ukrainian strikes left many unable to cook at home.

Cities and towns across Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, have had to cope with limited fuel supplies for much of the ⁠summer amid Ukrainian attacks on power ⁠plants and other infrastructure.

Ukraine, whose own cities have been under repeated attack since Moscow sent thousands of troops ⁠into the country in 2022, says it is "bringing the war back ⁠home to Russia" by intensifying ‌strikes deep inside the country and on territory its neighbour controls.

A woman eats a meal prepared at a field kitchen in Massandra (Reuters)
A woman eats a meal prepared at a field kitchen in Massandra (Reuters)

Standing beside boiling vats of buckwheat, later to be ‌added to plates of reheated tinned beef, ‌Massandra town administration head Oksana Madyud said her workers were serving roughly 200 people per day.

"We're preparing hot meals for people, as under the ⁠current circumstances not everyone has the means to cook hot food on electric hobs," she said.

One local woman, Marina, said pain in her leg was making the climb down from her 10th-floor apartment difficult, but the lack of electricity had sent her hunting for a gas cooker and some cylinders.

"There's nothing up ‌there," she said, referring to her apartment.

People line up for hot meals at a field kitchen set up by the local authorities in the settlement of Massandra (Reuters)
People line up for hot meals at a field kitchen set up by the local authorities in the settlement of Massandra (Reuters)

"We've got an electric cooker - that's it."Another older resident, Alexandra, ‌said she had been lured down ⁠by the smell of the lunch after going ⁠without electricity for 10 days.

"They turned it back on today, at 4 ‌o'clock" in the afternoon, but she wasn't sure the ‌lights would still be on when she returned home, she added.

'Ukrainian drones' sink Rosatom vessel in Black Sea

03:00 , Alex Croft

Two Ukrainian drones hit and sank a civilian vessel owned by Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom sailing in the Black Sea overnight on Friday, the company's head, Alexei Likhachev, said in a statement on Saturday.

All 17 crew members survived the attack on the ship, which was transporting goods such as frozen food and construction materials, Likhachev added.

"Such an attack can only be described as piracy and maritime robbery," he said.

Both Russia and Ukraine have stepped up attacks in recent weeks on ships that they say are aiding the other side's war effort.

Watch: Trump says he wants Zelensky and Putin to end Ukraine war

01:30 , Alex Croft

Zelensky says latest attacks show Ukraine's need for Patriot missiles

Sunday 2 August 2026 00:00 , Alex Croft

President Volodymyr Zelensky has pressed the US and other Western partners regarding Ukraine’s need for more Patriot anti-ballistic missile defence systems to counter aerial attacks from Russia.

“Every package of ballistic missile interceptors saves the lives of our people. And every night without them results in more casualties,” he wrote on X following the latest attacks.

The Ukrainian leader late Friday said he spoke to US vice president JD Vance and discussed a meeting with president Donald Trump earlier this week in Washington, which Zelensky described as “positive and productive.”

“The Russian air strikes on our country continue and air defence, specifically interceptors for Patriot systems against ballistic missiles, remains a top priority,” Zelensky said on Friday in a post on Telegram.

Moscow bomb aimed to maim and kill guests of well-guarded party in upscale Italian restaurant - report

Saturday 1 August 2026 23:24 , Alex Croft

The Kommersant daily newspaper has cited sources as saying that the bomb had been intended to maim and kill guests who were enjoying themselves on the upscale Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant's summer terrace outside.

The restaurant's ‌website said the venue had ​been closed on Saturday for a private event, but it is unclear who was present.

The party, the paper reported, was heavily guarded, which helped prevent casualties.

Kommersant added that preliminary reports suggest the courier likely didn’t know what the contents of the package were.

The newspaper reported that the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee is investigating the incident as a terrorism crime.

Latest pictures from the scene of the explosion in Moscow

Saturday 1 August 2026 23:19 , Alex Croft

The injury toll was revised up to 21 (Reuters)
The injury toll was revised up to 21 (Reuters)
Law enforcement officers and emergency services personnel work at the site of an explosion at a restaurant in central Moscow (Reuters)
Law enforcement officers and emergency services personnel work at the site of an explosion at a restaurant in central Moscow (Reuters)
The bomb was brought near an upscale Italian restaurant (AP)
The bomb was brought near an upscale Italian restaurant (AP)
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