Russian ballistic missiles tore through Ukraine's Kyiv region on Friday, causing carnage at a defence industry event that left 10 people dead and nearly 100 injured. The strike targeted a site north of the capital, situated precariously close to residential areas, sparking widespread condemnation from Ukrainian authorities.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was scathing in his response, labelling it "Russian terror" and warning that such events were an unacceptable risk given the ongoing conflict. He also laid blame on those who chose to host the event, stating that large gatherings near residential areas are "absolutely unacceptable". The gathering was organised by a drone manufacturers' association, with Ruslan Oliynyk, the acting governor of the Kyiv region, declaring a day of mourning for Saturday.
In a separate development, US influencer Laura Loomer met with President Zelenskyy in Kyiv, amidst controversy surrounding her past coverage of Russia's invasion. During their interview, which took place in the garden of the presidential palace, Zelenskyy expressed his hopes to meet Donald Trump next week and spoke about potential future cooperation on drone technology between Ukraine and the US.
The Ukrainian president indicated that this collaboration could include the establishment of a US factory to produce unmanned aerial vehicles, leveraging Ukraine's expertise in advanced drone warfare. He stressed that the partnership would be mutually beneficial, stating "Our drone deal is win-win". This comes as no surprise given Ukraine's significant innovation in drone technology over the four-year conflict.
Elsewhere in Ukraine, hostilities continued unabated. In Sloviansk, a Russian aerial bomb attack on Friday killed five people and injured nine. Later that day, another strike on the city left 16 injured and damaged residential buildings. The northern Sumy region was also hit by a Russian drone strike, killing two people, while a shopping centre in Zaporizhzhia caught fire after being struck.
On the other side of the conflict, Russia reported a "massive enemy drone attack" on the city of Belgorod early on Saturday, resulting in casualties and fires. The situation remains volatile across Ukraine, with both sides trading blows in a brutal and unrelenting conflict.