Ukraine-Russia war latest: Two dead in Kyiv as Zelensky warns of massive incoming Russian attack

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Two dead in Kyiv as Zelensky warns of massive incoming Russian attack Multiple explosions in Kyiv as Russian Tu-95 bombers approach border - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in Authorities in Kyiv said two people were killed in the latest wave of Russian attacks on the Ukrainian capital on Wednesday morning. Multiple explosions were heard in Kyiv overnight, with many residents taking shelter in subways and metro stations. Ukraine's Air Force previously warned of several Russian Tu-95 bombers approaching the border. It came as president Volodymyr Zelensky said intelligence suggested Russia was preparing a massive fresh attack on Ukraine, and warned it was crucial that every ally with weapons should support his country. With Moscow targeting the Ukrainian capital on a near-daily basis, it's not clear whether Wednesday morning's attacks were the "massive strike" Zelensky referred to. At least one person died as Ukraine targeted the Moscow region with more than 650 drones on Monday night, believed to be the largest aerial attack on the Russian capital in two years. Kyiv has continued to strike Russian oil infrastructure despite repeated requests to stop doing so from US president Donald Trump, who again blamed Ukraine on Monday for high gas prices in America. Kim Jong Un hails 'wonderful' friendship in birthday letter to Putin North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged continued support for Russia and its war effort in a birthday message to president Vladimir Putin, state media KCNA said on Wednesday. Kim said Pyongyang would continue to expand joint work under the countries' comprehensive strategic partnership, saying he was convinced that Russia's "sacred war of justice" to defend its sovereignty, security interests and territorial integrity would end in victory, KCNA said. "Attaching great importance to a comprehensive strategic partnership and allied relations with the fraternal Russian Federation, and continually expanding and developing our joint efforts is the unwavering line of [North Korea's] government and my personal, unwavering choice," he said. "I am glad to have such a wonderful friendly relationship with you and to be opening a new chapter in the development of relations between our two countries," Kim added. The message did not explicitly mention Russia's war in Ukraine. North Korea has sent an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine since 2024, according to Ukrainian and South Korean estimates. North Korea and Russia have strengthened ties sharply since Putin and Kim signed a mutual defence pact in June 2024. Two people killed in Kyiv as Russia launches another large-scale attack Authorities in Kyiv said two people have been killed in the latest wave of Russian attacks on the capital on Wednesday. The attack coincides with Russian president Vladimir Putin's 74th birthday. Multiple explosions have been heard in Kyiv overnight with many residents taking shelter in subways and metro stations. Ukraine's Air Force previously warned of several Russian Tu-95 bombers approaching the border. Zelensky says intel received that Russia is preparing for a massive strike Volodymyr Zelensky issued a video message to warn that Ukraine has received updated intel on “Russia’s preparations for a massive strike”. “I ask you, please, to take care of yourselves and respond to missile threat alerts,” he said. “Ukrainian services and our Air Force are ready to respond – as much as our defences allow.”He added that a lot depends on Ukraine’s partners to provide support. “It’s very important that there be the political will to do this – particularly in the United States and in Europe.” His warning came ahead of another round of bombardments in Kyiv overnight, with explosions heard in the city. With Moscow targeting the Ukrainian capital on a near-daily basis, it's not clear whether Wednesday morning's attacks were the "massive strike" Zelensky referred to. Residents have been taking shelter inside metro stations amid the latest wave of attacks. Russia strikes Ukraine's Kyiv in fresh wave of attacks Russia struck the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv in the early hours of Wednesday, damaging buildings and warehouses across the city, mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram, as Moscow keeps up nearly daily round-the-clock attacks. Explosions were heard in the city, a witness said. A separate air strike on Ukraine's southeastern city of Dnipro has damaged an industrial facility, the regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha said on Telegram, without giving details. Moscow behind sinking of ship off Bulgaria, Zelensky says investigation shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has blamed Moscow for the sinking of a merchant ship in the Black Sea off Bulgaria. The crew was missing after the vessel sank off Nato member Bulgaria following a drone strike that Prime Minister Rumen Radev branded a gross violation of international law. President Zelensky said an investigation jointly with Bulgaria's navy showed that Russia was behind the attack by air and sea drones. Shipping sources said it appeared to be the first such attack in the waters of Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone. Radev had said it was unclear whether the drones came from Russia or from Ukraine, the BTA news agency reported. Bulgaria does not border either country but it holds a strategic position in the Black Sea, where both Ukraine and Russia have major ports. Ukraine shifts to AI robot guns to tackle Russian drones Ukraine has shifted to using AI-enabled robot guns to intercept and take down Russian drones, said the country’s air force on Monday. “Robotic turrets are now being installed on bridges” to respond to Russia’s newer jet-powered drones, said air force spokesperson Yuri Ignat. “There have already been shoot-downs" of the drones, he said, including Russia's bigger and faster model. The technology uses “optical vision and artificial intelligence to eliminate the human factor and deliver strikes,” Ignat told AFP. Kremlin floats Putin-Trump-Xi meeting idea Russia would be interested in a potential trilateral meeting between president Vladimir Putin, US president Donald Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the forthcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in China, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov says. The summit is due to take place on November 18-19. Ushakov said the idea remained at an early stage and that no practical details had yet been worked out. South Korea selling fuel to Russia, Kyiv says Russia imported more than 176,000 tons of petroleum products from South Korean ports in July and August, easing the impact of a fuel crisis caused by Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, Ukraine's top sanctions official say. The supplies from South Korea made up 31% of Russian fuel imports in August, according to the official. Vladyslav Vlasiuk cited what he said were reports that tankers, including ones under Western sanctions, were used for the deliveries. "These shipments began precisely when Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries were reducing processing volumes and creating a fuel shortage within Russia," Vlasiuk wrote. A diplomatic row erupted between Seoul and Kyiv last month when President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, a step that Seoul says was meant to stay secret. Russia drops case against children’s hospice founder Russian investigators have dropped a criminal case against children's hospice founder Lida Moniava after finding her actions did not constitute a crime, her lawyer and supporters say, a rare apparent reversal by authorities enforcing stringent wartime censorship laws. Moniava was briefly detained in September and charged with deliberately spreading false information about the actions of Russian armed forces against Ukrainian civilians. She denied the charge and was placed under pre-trial restrictions. Her Lighthouse charity continued its work supporting critically ill children and young people in the Moscow region. In a post on Telegram, a group set up to support her during the case announced what it called a miracle. "We have incredible news — the criminal case against Lida Moniava has been dropped," they said. Her lawyer said investigators had informed him that they had dropped the case, Russian news agencies reported. Moniava has publicly criticised the war, calling it a crime that must end. Black Sea drone attack that sank ship off Bulgaria condemned as crew missing Black Sea drone attack that sunk ship off Bulgaria condemned as crew still missing Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments