Wave of Russian strikes in Ukraine leaves 15 dead and over 100 wounded

At least 15 people have lost their lives and around 100 others have been wounded as a result of a series of Russian strikes in Ukraine, where the deadliest incident was marked by a ballistic missile that struck a drone technology fair near the capital.

According to official Ukrainian reports, 10 victims were recorded in this attack near Kyiv, while five other people were killed by bombardments that hit the eastern city of Sloviansk.

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the event had gathered key figures from the defense sector and that around 100 individuals sustained injuries. He added that an investigation has been opened to clarify the circumstances of the exhibition’s organization and the security measures implemented.

Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuri Ihnat explained that the strike was executed with three ballistic missiles, of which the air defense system managed to neutralize only one.

On the other hand, the Russian Ministry of Defense acknowledged the attack, emphasizing that it had used high-precision, long-range weaponry to strike a site where, according to its claims, drone technologies used for attacks on civilian targets in Russia were being showcased.

Moscow asserted that drone manufacturers, members of the Ukrainian drone forces, and security service officials implicated in planning attacks against Russian territory took part in the event.

Meanwhile, Russian bombardments with glide bombs in Sloviansk caused five deaths, and two other men lost their lives in the northern city of Sumy, according to Ukrainian military authorities.

Following the strike near Kyiv, there were concerns about the fate of Defense Ministry advisor Serhiy Beskrestnov, known by the nickname “Flash,” and Lyuba Shypovych, who is involved in military technology development. Both later confirmed on social media that they were not harmed, while Beskrestnov revealed that he had chosen not to attend due to security concerns.