Ukraine expects 'record' number of drone attacks this winter
Ukraine's air force expects a record number of Russian drone attacks this winter, its spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said Sunday, as Kyiv prepares itself for a second winter of mass bombardment of its energy facilities. The announcement came after a dozen people were wounded, including a woman and her nine-month-old baby, in a Russian attack on the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson, its governor said Sunday. Read our liveblog to see how all the day's events unfolded. All times are Paris time (GMT+2).
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9:23pm: Zelensky says two Ukrainian nationals killed in Israel
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that two Ukrainian nationals had died amid attacks in Israel and that more than 100 citizens had contacted the country's embassy.
"Unfortunately, the deaths of two Ukrainian citizens have been confirmed," Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
4:23pm: Zelensky expresses 'solidarity' in call with Netanyahu
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday to reiterate Kyiv's support to Israel, which retaliated after a massive assault from the Palestinian Hamas group.
"I spoke with Netanyahu to affirm Ukraine's solidarity with Israel, which suffers from a brazen large-scale attack, and to express condolences for the multiple victims," Zelensky said, adding "we also discussed the attack's ramifications for the security situation in the region and beyond."
1:53pm: Ukraine expects 'record' number of drone attacks this winter, says air force
Ukraine's air force expects a record number of Russian drone attacks on its soil this winter, its spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said on Sunday, as Kyiv prepares itself for a second winter of mass bombardment of its energy facilities.
Ihnat said that data for September showed the use by Russia of Iranian-designed Shahed kamikaze drones would smash last year's figure.
"This autumn and winter ... is already a record in terms of the number of Shahed drones. Over 500 (were used) in September," Ihnat said in an interview on national television.
He contrasted this number with Russia's air strike campaign on Ukraine last winter, when he said about 1,000 Shahed drones were used in six months.
Attacks on energy facilites last winter damaged a significant chunk of Ukraine's power system and forced most cities to ration electricity and hot water.
Despite Ukraine bolstering its air defences, officials have warned of the risk of a repeat this winter, with the power grid still far from rebuilt after the last campaign of bombardment.
7:47am: A dozen injured, including baby, in Russian attack on Ukraine's Kherson region, says governor
A dozen people were wounded, including a 27-year-old woman and her 9-month-old baby, in a Russian attack on the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson, its governor said on Sunday.
"The Kherson region experienced another terrible night," Governor Oleksandr Prokudin wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
The woman and the infant were hospitalised with moderate wounds, he said, adding that a 33-year-old Red Cross medic was also wounded.
Several houses and gas pipelines were damaged in the attack.
Over the past 24 hours, Russian forces carried out 59 attacks on Kherson, the region's administration said on Telegram, including 19 instances of shelling of Kherson city, the region's administrative centre.
FRANCE 24 could not independently verify the reports. There was no immediate comment from Russia.
3:29am: Russia to seek return to UN rights body despite Ukraine war
Russia, which was ousted from the UN Human Rights Council after its forces invaded Ukraine, will attempt a return to the body on Tuesday – an uncertain move that will provide a gauge of its international support.
The UN General Assembly will vote that day to elect 15 new members to the Geneva-based UN body, for terms running from 2024 to 2026.
Moscow's candidacy has drawn skepticism, and the vote will come just days after a Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian village of Groza killed more than 50 people in a scene of carnage.
"We hope UN members will firmly reject (Russia's) preposterous candidacy," a State Department spokesperson told AFP on condition of anonymity.
"Members of Russia's forces have committed violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine," the spokesperson added.
1:02am: Zelensky calls for world solidarity with Israel
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on world leaders on Saturday to show solidarity and unity in supporting Israel and condemning the "terrorist attack" by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed "mighty vengeance" after a surprise assault by Hamas killed more than 200 people in the deadliest day of violence in Israel in half a century.
Zelensky, whose army has been fighting a war Russia launched against it 19 months ago, said that Israel – just like Ukraine – has "every right" to protect itself.
"Let the value of human life and the intolerance of terror be the principles that will finally unite the whole world," Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
Key developments from Saturday, October 8:
Ukrainian shelling on the Russian border region of Belgorod killed one person on Saturday morning, local authorities said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday announced the start of gas supplies to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan, a boost for Russia's industry hit by a flurry of Western sanctions over the offensive in Ukraine. Moscow relies heavily on energy revenues but has seen export plummet since the offensive.
Read yesterday’s live blog to see how the day’s events unfolded.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
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