Nighttime strikes kill at least 5 in Ukraine, as Zelenskyy discusses drone defense on UAE visit

Overnight Russian drone strikes in Ukraine killed at least five people and injured others in multiple regions, including Odesa, Kryvyi Rih, and Poltava. Ukrainian authorities reported that Russia launched over 270 drones, targeting civilian infrastructure like a maternity hospital and industrial sites. Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy made an unannounced visit to the United Arab Emirates to discuss regional security and drone defense cooperation. Ukraine is assisting several Middle Eastern and Gulf countries, including the UAE, in countering Iranian drone attacks. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of global protection against terror and discussed the security situation in the Emirates, Iranian strikes, and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz with the Emirati leader.

Russian strikes on Odesa, Kryvyi Rih, and the Poltava region of Ukraine on Saturday killed at least four people and wounded over a dozen others. The attacks damaged residential areas, a maternity hospital, an industrial site, and gas production facilities. In Odesa, one person died and eleven were wounded, while in Kryvyi Rih, two men were killed and two wounded at an industrial site. Russian drones also targeted gas production facilities in the Poltava region, resulting in one fatality. These attacks occurred amid a shifting global focus toward Iran, as the war in Ukraine continues without a clear resolution.