Russian strikes kill two in Ukraine, damaging a Kyiv clinic, as European leaders prepare for a Paris summit on a potential peace plan for the war.
KYIV: Russian bombardments killed two people in Ukraine early Monday, on the eve of a key diplomatic summit in Paris.
A nationwide air raid siren sounded just after midnight, with Ukraine’s military reporting air defence activity in several regions.
In the capital, a strike hit a private medical facility, killing one person and injuring three others.
The State Emergency Service of Kyiv released images showing rescuers carrying people on stretchers from the gutted building.
A separate pre-dawn attack on the neighbouring city of Fastiv killed a man in his 70s, according to Kyiv regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk.
The strikes caused power outages, with backup systems activated to maintain water and heating as temperatures plunged to -8C.
The attacks preceded a meeting of European leaders in France seeking a breakthrough on a peace plan Kyiv says is “90 percent” ready.
Security advisers from 15 countries, including Britain, France and Germany, plus NATO and EU representatives, gathered in Kyiv over the weekend to lay the groundwork.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff joined those talks virtually, a Ukrainian official told AFP.
Diplomatic efforts have intensified recently, though Moscow and Kyiv remain at odds over territory in any post-war settlement.
Russia, which occupies around 20% of Ukraine, demands full control of the eastern Donbas region as part of a deal.
Kyiv has warned that ceding ground will embolden Moscow and said it will not sign a peace deal that fails to deter a future invasion.
Ukraine has responded to daily bombardment with drone attacks targeting Russian energy infrastructure.
Russia’s defence ministry claimed to have shot down several hundred Ukrainian drones over the weekend, an unusually high number.
The Kremlin published a video of a downed drone it said Ukraine launched at President Vladimir Putin’s home, alleging the property was undamaged.
Kyiv refuted the allegation, and its European allies expressed scepticism.
US President Donald Trump said American officials did not believe Putin’s residence had been targeted after reviewing evidence.
Russia has also accused Kyiv of a drone attack on a hotel and cafe in the Moscow-held part of Kherson region last Thursday, claiming 28 deaths.
Ukraine says it was a strike on a military gathering.
Moscow accuses Kyiv of insincere peace efforts, while Ukraine says Russia is trying to scupper diplomatic momentum.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, calling it a “special military operation” to prevent NATO expansion.
Russia made bigger advances on the battlefield last year than any other year since the invasion began, according to an AFP analysis.
