At least five people have been killed in a series of long-range strikes carried out by Kyiv and Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine has new evidence suggesting that Russia is intentionally targeting civilian infrastructure.
On Saturday, Russia attacked a Liberian-flagged ship in Ukraine’s Odesa region, resulting in one death and three injuries, according to the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority. Another cargo ship in Odesa port was also hit, as reported by Interfax.
A Russian strike on Kyiv’s Northern Bridge injured two people, marking the second bridge attack in the capital within two days. Russia has effectively blockaded Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, previously a significant source of food exports, by targeting civilian vessels carrying grain and steel, which has negatively impacted the Ukrainian economy.
These attacks follow a series of heavy strikes on Kyiv that have raised concerns among residents. Zelenskyy mentioned that Ukrainian intelligence has reviewed documents indicating Russia’s new strategy of targeting roads, schools, hospitals, and other civilian sites, aiming to pressure residents to leave Kyiv and other cities.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine plans to respond to Moscow's tactics but will not indiscriminately target civilian infrastructure. He stated, "With their attacks on our energy, we have to respond on their energy. But we will not respond, of course, just like them, on any civilian objects."
On the same day, Russia reported casualties from Ukrainian strikes, including two deaths in the Luhansk region and one death with ten injuries in the Zaporizhia region due to a Ukrainian drone attack. Additionally, one person was reported killed in a drone attack on Russia’s Belgorod region.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a warning to diplomats and foreigners in Kyiv, advising them to leave the city to avoid potential harm, although many foreign embassies continue to operate there.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has entered its fifth year with no signs of abating. Despite a slowdown in Russian battlefield gains, Zelenskyy noted that a Ukrainian counteroffensive, referred to as "Vivaldi," has recaptured approximately 140 square kilometers (54 square miles) in the eastern Donbas region, which Russia claims it must control for any peace deal.
Zelenskyy cautioned the United States against believing that Russia would uphold a peace deal if it gained control of Donbas, stating that no specific date or location for upcoming trilateral talks in the United Arab Emirates has been confirmed.
In recent months, Russia has intensified its attacks on civilian infrastructure, utilizing jet-powered long-range strike drones that are faster and more challenging to intercept. Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine has relied on its fighter aircraft to down about 60 percent of these drones, although ammunition supplies for the planes are dwindling.
Kyiv is expecting the first shipment of smaller, more affordable air defense missiles in the latter half of October. Ukraine has also conducted significant long-range strikes targeting Russian oil infrastructure and military facilities deep within Russian territory. Recent shelling by Ukraine has damaged external power supply equipment at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which Russia seized early in the war in 2022.