New night of Russian nighttime attack with 17 drones in two residential areas of Kharkiv hitting multi-story civilian buildings, various low-rise houses, and public transportation in the second-largest city in Ukraine after Kiev, in the northeast of the country amid over three years of war.
In addition to Kharkiv, Russian drones hit other parts of Ukraine. Moscow's forces have deployed a high number of drones and missiles in recent days, with a record bombardment of nearly 500 drones on Monday and a wave of 315 drones and seven missiles overnight on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Ukraine claims to have attacked a gunpowder factory in the Russian region of Tambov.
Talks between United States and Russia to resolve their bilateral relationship issues, currently at their worst, will move from Istanbul to Moscow.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump views the Ukraine conflict as a proxy war between the U.S. and Russia, with Trump warning repeatedly of the risk of it escalating into a world war.
Belgrade Expresses Support for Ukraine's Territorial Integrity
While Belgrade has refused to join Western sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, it has condemned Moscow's policies at the United Nations and expressed support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, as reported by Reuters.
Serbia's populist president, Aleksandar Vucic, has also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on at least three occasions.
Belgrade recognizes Ukraine in its entirety, including territories seized by Russia since 2014, while Kiev has refused to recognize the independence of Kosovo in 2008, the former southern Serbian province with a majority Albanian population.
In late May, Russia's foreign intelligence service, the SVR, accused Belgrade of a "stab in the back," alleging that Serbian defense manufacturers were selling ammunition and weapons to Ukraine through intermediaries.
The only Serbian president to visit Ukraine since the Balkan country's independence in 2006 was Boris Tadic in 2011. The former Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko, visited Serbia in 2018.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic Visits Ukraine for the First Time in His Life
Serbia's populist president, Aleksandar Vucic, traveled to the Ukrainian city of Odesa today to attend a regional summit, marking the first time the Moscow-aligned leader has visited the country during his 12-year tenure, as reported by Reuters.
In a statement, Vucic's office announced his one-day trip to Ukraine to participate in the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit in the Black Sea port of Odesa, which faced a significant Russian drone and missile attack this week.
Serbia aims to join the European Union, but Russia, its traditional Slavic and Orthodox Christian ally, remains its main gas supplier, with the country's only oil refinery majority-owned by Gazprom and Gazprom Neft.
Ukraine Claims to Have Attacked a Gunpowder Factory in the Russian Region of Tambov
A gunpowder factory in Russia's Tambov region was forced to halt operations last night after being hit by a Ukrainian attack, according to Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Disinformation Center of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, as reported by Efe.
"It produces gunpowder for various types of light weapons, artillery, and missile systems," wrote Kovalenko, explaining that the plant had been previously targeted during the war.
According to the Ukrainian official, who often reports on the effects of Ukraine's attacks on Russian rear positions, the infrastructure is a major supplier of explosives for the Russian Army and has significantly increased its production since the start of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Kyiv practically attacks Russian territory every night with long-range drones that often target military objectives and industries associated with Russian war machinery.
Ukraine Downs 49 Russian Shahed Drones Over Various Regions of the Country
Ukrainian air defenses neutralized 49 Shahed drones over several regions in the east, south, north, and center of the country last night, as reported by the Ukrainian Air Force on Wednesday, according to Efe.
Russia launched a total of 85 drones against Ukrainian territory, including Shaheds and imitations used to confuse enemy defenses.
Russian forces also fired an Iskander-M ballistic missile at Ukraine in the past hours, which could not be intercepted.
The Ukrainian Air Force recorded direct hits in 14 locations. In two other places, remnants of intercepted projectiles fell.
Three people died in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv as a result of the Russian attack.
Record Russian Bombardment on Ukraine
In recent months, Kharkiv has been the target of repeated large-scale drone and missile attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Moscow's forces have deployed a high number of drones and missiles in recent days, with a record bombardment of nearly 500 drones on Monday and a wave of 315 drones and seven missiles overnight on Tuesday, according to Ap.
The attacks continue despite talks of a possible ceasefire.
Both sides exchanged memorandums during direct peace talks held in Istanbul on June 2, outlining conditions. However, the inclusion of clauses deemed non-essential by both parties makes a quick agreement unlikely.
Russian Attacks Kill 3 People in Kharkiv and Other Parts of Ukraine
Russian forces launched a new drone attack across Ukraine overnight on Wednesday, killing three people and injuring 60, according to Ukrainian officials.
One of the most affected areas was the city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, where 17 attack drones hit two residential districts, said Mayor Ihor Terekhov.
Emergency teams, municipal workers, and volunteers worked throughout the night to extinguish fires, rescue residents from burning houses, and restore gas, electricity, and water services.
"These are ordinary places of peaceful life that should never be attacked," Terekhov wrote on Telegram.
Three people were confirmed dead, with at least 60 injured, including nine children aged 2 to 15, according to regional head Oleh Syniehubov, as reported by Ap.
Kremlin advisor and envoy in Istanbul, Vladimir Medinsky, stated that unless Ukraine accepts Russia's conditions to end the war, the country will lose more territory, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, citing Reuters.
"With Russia, it is impossible to wage a long war," Medinsky told the Journal, citing Russia's 21-year war with Sweden in the 18th century as proof that the country prevails in prolonged fights.
"We want peace," he was quoted as saying. "But if Ukraine continues to be guided by the national interests of others, we will be forced to respond."
Daily Report of Russian Casualties, According to Ukrainian Defense
Talks between the United States and Russia to address their bilateral relationship issues will move from Istanbul to Moscow, as stated by the new Russian ambassador to Washington to the state news agency TASS, as reported by Reuters.
"The recovery of Russian-American relations is still far off," declared Ambassador Alexander Darchiev to TASS, adding that the approach to Moscow was hindered by the so-called U.S. "deep state" and anti-Russian "hawks" in Congress.