(KYIV) – Russian forces have resumed their attacks on Kyiv, striking the Ukrainian capital with ballistic missiles and drones overnight into Tuesday. At least two people have been killed and seven wounded in the assault.
Just before midnight, Russian news agency TASS confirmed the end of the three day ceasefire declared by Russia and Ukraine in connection with the visit of US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Moments later, explosions rang out over Kyiv. Fires broke out in several neighbourhoods of the city, including in residential buildings. Rescuers are searching for people who may still be trapped in the rubble.
Russian drones also struck the Fastiv and Boryspil areas near Kyiv. The targets were logistics centres and industrial facilities. Firefighters worked through the night to extinguish the fires that broke out following the explosions.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones reportedly targeted the Saratov oil refinery in Russia overnight into Tuesday, with residents reporting explosions and a large fire at the facility. Videos and photos shared online showed the blaze that followed the reported attack. The independent Russian outlet Astra geolocated the footage and identified the Saratov oil refinery, situated around 460 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, as the likely target.
The reported strike comes amid Ukraine’s sustained campaign against Russian energy infrastructure aimed at disrupting fuel supplies and revenues that help Moscow fund its war against Ukraine.
In Germany, spontaneous protests were held in cities across the country on Monday in reaction to the AfD’s victory with 44 percent of the vote in state elections in Saxony-Anhalt the previous day. Thousands gathered at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, with police estimating the turnout at 5,000 and organisers putting it at nearly triple that, at 14,000.
Former German ambassador to Poland, Rolf Nikl, called the Sunday victory of the far right AfD party in the Saxony-Anhalt state elections a political earthquake. Nevertheless, Nikl emphasised that the result is one of the smallest of Germany’s 16 regions and does not necessarily indicate a shift on the federal level.
In other news, Finland completed construction of a 200 kilometre fence along its eastern frontier with Russia on Monday. At 1,340 kilometres, Finland has the longest shared border with Russia of any EU or NATO member. Finland’s interior minister said that the barrier may need to be extended in the future.
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