At least 12 dead as Russia launches fresh overnight attacks on Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said at least 12 people, including an Indian national, were killed in the latest overnight Russian strikes on Ukraine, with dozens more injured. He said the attacks also left thousands of families without electricity in the Odesa region and deliberately damaged a border crossing with Romania.

Over recent days Ukraine has faced a sustained wave of Russian attacks, including daytime bombing, in what Zelenskyy described as an effort to wear the country down. The capital, Kyiv, has now been struck for six consecutive days.

European response

The threat from Russia is also set to dominate an informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Wicklow, Ireland. There are indications Germany may soon formally attribute last month's incident in Leipzig — where a drone attack targeted a Ukrainian cargo plane — to Russia. German newspaper Bild reported that the country's interior and foreign ministers are expected to announce the findings of their investigation later today.

Ireland's defence minister, Helen McEntee, speaking on behalf of the EU's Irish presidency, described the talks as coming at a time of profound challenge for European security, stressing the need for closer cooperation. The agenda includes support for Ukraine, maritime security and resilience against hybrid threats.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Nato remains the cornerstone of European security, but noted that the US has been urging its European partners to take greater responsibility for their own defence. She announced plans to form a high-level group of former political and military leaders from several EU countries, as well as the UK and Ukraine, to reassess responses to growing military threats.

Other Russia-linked incidents have also been reported across Europe in recent days, including a suspected arson attack at a drone factory in Poland on Sunday night. On Tuesday, both Estonia and Latvia briefly activated their air alert systems following reports of drones near their airspace.