United News of Bangladesh

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Wednesday described an alleged Russian drone attack plot targeting a German airport as “state-sponsored terrorism” as EU countries considered how to respond. The German government on Tuesday blamed Russia for the attempted attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport on Aug. 4, involving a drone carrying explosives. Berlin also announced plans to close a Russian consulate among other measures. The drone was found near a Ukrainian aircraft, and the explosive device was safely defused. German officials said the incident represented a new level of danger. “It is clear that it has all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism. The question is: what do we do about this,” Kallas told reporters before chairing a meeting of EU defence ministers in Ireland. Western officials have repeatedly accused Moscow of carrying out sabotage and other disruptive activities across Europe to weaken support for Ukraine and create instability. The EU is already preparing additional sanctions against individuals and organisations linked to Russia's war in Ukraine. Kallas said about 1,600 people and entities linked to Russia's military-industrial complex are already being considered for sanctions, with more potentially to be added. The alleged airport attack and its attribution to Russia could prompt the EU, and possibly NATO, to consider a stronger response. However, European countries remain cautious about taking steps that could lead to a direct confrontation with nuclear-armed Russia. The EU has already imposed nearly two dozen rounds of sanctions on Russia since its invasion of Ukraine, targeting around 3,000 individuals and organisations. Those targeted include Russian President Vladimir Putin, wealthy businessmen who support him and numerous lawmakers. The sanctions have also targeted Russian banks and financial institutions, as well as hundreds of vessels accused of being part of a “shadow fleet” used to transport oil and support Russia's war effort. Energy companies, drone manufacturers and other businesses have also faced restrictions. Most EU measures involve freezing assets and imposing travel bans. The bloc has also sanctioned individuals and companies in countries accused of supporting Russia, including Belarus, China, Iran and North Korea.

At least 11 people were killed and more than a dozen others injured, including three children, after Russia launched a major overnight drone and missile attack on Ukraine’s capital region, local authorities said Tuesday. Ukraine’s air force said Russia began the assault around 6pm Monday, firing ballistic, cruise and anti-radar missiles and launching 218 drones and decoys. About one-third of the drones were reportedly powered by jet engines. The Kyiv and Odesa regions were the main targets, according to the air force. The latest strikes came as Russian attacks on Kyiv entered their sixth consecutive day. The capital has faced almost continuous air raid warnings since last week, with repeated strikes occurring both at night and during the day. Authorities said the latest barrage damaged residential buildings and civilian infrastructure in several parts of Kyiv. Eight people were killed in the capital, while three others died in surrounding areas of the Kyiv region. Seven people were killed in Kyiv’s Darnytskyi district, officials said. One person was seriously injured and taken to hospital, while another explosion in the area injured two people, including a child. In the Holosiivskyi district, one person died after a non-residential building was hit and caught fire. A drone also struck a residential building in the Solomianskyi district, damaging the structure. Emergency workers rescued a man and pulled a woman from beneath the rubble. Three more people were killed in other parts of the Kyiv region, where 12 people were injured. In Boryspil, three cars caught fire following the attacks. Emergency crews evacuated 48 people and rescued two others trapped under rubble. Eight people were injured, including two children. A truck caught fire at an infrastructure facility in Boryspil, damaging the building. Two people were killed and three others injured there, while another person died after a service station was damaged. The Odesa region also came under heavy attack overnight. Regional governor Oleh Kiper said civilian infrastructure was damaged and one person was injured. Two residential buildings were damaged and a fire broke out at a sewing factory. Russian forces also struck the Orlivka international ferry crossing on the border with Romania, Kiper said. Ukraine’s military said its forces destroyed or disrupted 199 aerial targets, including five ballistic missiles and 187 drones. Missile and drone strikes were reported at 28 locations, while debris from intercepted targets fell at another 10 sites, according to the Ukrainian air force.