Russia and Ukraine exchanged deadly overnight strikes Tuesday, with Russian missiles and drones killing five people in Ukraine, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepared to meet US President Donald Trump in New York.
Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces struck two Russian oil refineries overnight, while Russia claimed it shot down 297 Ukrainian drones over 14 regions and Crimea.
Russia’s attack involved anti-ship, ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 200 drones, Ukraine’s air force said. Four people were killed in Dnipro and a woman was killed by a drone in Sumy, while several regions reported damage to homes and other facilities.
Russia said its strikes targeted metallurgical and chemical industries, fuel and energy facilities, military-industrial sites and port infrastructure in four Ukrainian regions.
Trump has urged Zelenskyy to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries, saying they are contributing to global fuel shortages and higher prices. Zelenskyy has said Ukraine would stop such strikes if Russia ends attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Zelenskyy was seeking US and international support at the UN General Assembly to end Russia’s more than 4½-year-old invasion. He also planned to seek additional US-made Patriot air defence systems and discuss proposals for halting attacks on energy infrastructure and a possible moratorium on strikes in the Black Sea.
French President Emmanuel Macron said France would provide Ukraine with additional radar systems to help protect its power grid.
Zelenskyy also called for continued international support for Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea, which have been disrupted by Russian attacks on cargo vessels.
The war has also affected global food and energy markets, with Russia and Ukraine previously accounting for about 30% of global wheat exports and 12% of corn exports.