Bombs continue to tear lives apart in Ukraine and Russia during the nightly attacks that both warring parties have now made a daily routine. This time, a family of four lost their lives in a Russian drone attack in the Sumy region in northern Ukraine.
This is not the only deadly attack in recent days, as on Saturday night to Sunday, a large-scale attack with hundreds of Russian drones and missiles against Ukraine resulted in at least four deaths in Kiev, including a 12-year-old girl, and dozens of injuries across the country.
Russian forces are advancing in this sector of the front, threatening the cities of Liman and Siversk, aiming to make their way towards Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, the main Ukrainian strongholds in the east of the country.
After three and a half years of war, diplomatic efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the attacks have reached a standstill.
Von der Leyen Speeds Up Russian Anti-Drone Wall with "Immediate Actions"
Ursula von der Leyen wants to accelerate the Russian anti-drone wall, and for this reason, she will propose "immediate actions" for its development and implementation. The Commission President intends to address this issue at the informal meeting of EU presidents taking place tomorrow in Copenhagen, thus responding to the increasing pressure from northern countries. Those closest to the Russian border are facing a wave of provocations and violations of their airspace.
European Union Proposes Financing Defense Industry with Frozen Russian Assets
As part of a reparations loan to Ukraine proposed by the European Commission and backed by frozen Russian assets, a portion would be allocated to purchasing defense equipment within Europe, stated Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as reported by Reuters.
Von der Leyen emphasized that the proposal does not involve confiscating the frozen assets. She also explained that Ukraine would repay the loan if Russia were to pay war reparations.
Putin Congratulates Russians on Third Anniversary of Annexation of Ukrainian Regions
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated his citizens today on the third anniversary of the annexation of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia, celebrated in Russia as the day of reunification with these territories, as reported by Efe.
"I warmly congratulate you on this holiday: the Day of Reunification of the People's Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, the regions of Zaporizhia and Kherson with our great united country," stated the president in a video message posted on the Kremlin's website and broadcast on television.
He recalled that three years ago, the residents of these regions made the decision "to be with their homeland, with Russia, to return to their family, of which they have always been a part."
Russia Claims Control of Two Villages in Ukrainian Donetsk Region
Russian forces have taken control of two new settlements on the frontlines in key areas of eastern Ukraine, in the Donetsk region, as reported on Monday by the Russian Ministry of Defense, according to Reuters.
Ukrainian officials did not comment on the Russian announcement regarding the two villages, but President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Kiev's counteroffensive near the city of Dobropillia, also in Donetsk, had made progress.
The Russian Ministry of Defense indicated that their forces now control Shandryholove and Zarichne, both northeast of the city of Sloviansk, one of the centers that Moscow hopes to eventually capture in its westward advance through Donetsk.
Ukraine Reports Death of Family of Four in Russian Drone Attack
A family of four died in a Russian drone attack in the Sumy region in northern Ukraine, reported Oleg Grigorov, head of the military administration in that area, on Tuesday, as per Afp.
"Tonight, the enemy attacked a residential building in the village of Chernechchina, in the Krasnopillia community," the official stated on the Telegram platform. "Rescue teams recovered the bodies of four deceased individuals from the rubble: the parents and their six- and four-year-old children," he said.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have "intercepted and destroyed" 81 Ukrainian drones overnight.