Three members of a family, including a 24-month-old girl, were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on their home in Proletarsky, Russia’s Belgorod region, according to Russian authorities. The area is around 20 kilometres from the Ukrainian border.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces intercepted 29 Ukrainian drones overnight, including several over the Moscow region.
Ukraine’s air force, meanwhile, reported that Russia launched 96 drones from Friday evening, of which 81 were intercepted or electronically suppressed.
Hits were reported at eight locations, with debris falling at two others. Power outages were also reported in parts of northeastern Sumy.
Amid continuing fighting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said US negotiators had raised the possibility of Ukraine withdrawing its troops from Donbas in exchange for NATO membership during recent peace talks in Abu Dhabi.
He said this was the first time the question had been raised but stressed that no concrete proposal had been made.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine would not voluntarily surrender territory but could consider a referendum if comprehensive security guarantees, military funding and reconstruction assistance were provided.
The two-day US-mediated talks concluded without a major breakthrough, although both sides agreed to a prisoner exchange involving more than 1,000 people.
Zelenskyy also said European representatives would participate in future negotiations.
European leaders have proposed a negotiating team involving the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and EU officials as diplomatic efforts continue to end the war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
