Russian Strikes Kill 2 in Ukraine Amid Tensions with Germany
Moscow rejects German calls to de-escalate, underscoring continued strain in bilateral relations as the aerial war intensifies.
Russian strikes killed at least two people in Ukraine overnight into Sunday, officials reported, hours after Moscow rejected German calls to ease its escalation toward NATO. The intensified aerial conflict between Russia and Ukraine shows no sign of slowing.
In Kyiv, a man was found dead after a Russian drone struck a non-residential building. Another drone hit a single-story vehicle repair shop, leading firefighters to battle the blaze into early Sunday, according to Ukraine's emergency service.
In the southern Odesa region, Russian forces struck multiple times overnight, killing one person and injuring two others, the head of the local military administration, Oleh Kiper, stated.
Russia's top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, on Saturday brushed off what is believed to have been the first direct conversation with his German counterpart since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The meeting occurred during the U.N. General Assembly's annual gathering of world leaders.
Lavrov described the meeting, held at the request of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, as one where Baerbock "simply reiterated her official position condemning Russia." He questioned whether this constituted dialogue. A German delegation official stated that Baerbock expressed openness to a better relationship but emphasized the need for Russia's leadership to genuinely commit to ending the war in Ukraine.
Relations between Russia and Germany have deteriorated in recent weeks, notably after Berlin blamed the Kremlin for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport last month.
With front-line positions largely static over the past year, Moscow has recently increased its aerial assaults on Ukraine, employing cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, powerful glide bombs, and jet-powered drones. In response, Kyiv has utilized long-range drones to target Russian oil refineries and businesses.
A significant majority of U.N. member nations have consistently condemned Moscow's invasion, which the Kremlin characterizes as a "special military operation" aimed at ensuring Russia's security and protecting Russian speakers.