Russia Launches Over 270 Drones In Ukraine, Killing At Least 5

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched more than 270 drones into Ukraine overnight, killing at least five people, Ukrainian officials reported Saturday. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made unannounced visits to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar; Kiev is trying to use its drone expertise to help Gulf Arab states blunt Iran’s attacks as the war in the Middle East continues.

Regional head Serhii Lysak said that two people were killed and at least 11 people were injured in the attack by a Russian drone on Odesa at night. The attack damaged a maternity hospital and private homes in the major Black Sea port city, according to Lysak’s Telegram posts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the “major” attack involved more than 60 drones.

“The Russians launched a massive attack on Odessa. There was no military purpose – it was pure terror against ordinary civilian life,” he said on X on Saturday. He added that in addition to businesses, the port and “critical” infrastructure were also damaged.

Two people were killed and two others were injured after a Russian drone struck an industrial facility in Zelenskyy’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine early Saturday, Oleksandr Gandzha, the region’s head, said in a Telegram update. He did not specify what the industrial building was.

One person was killed overnight when Russia struck unspecified industrial zones in central Ukraine’s Poltava region, regional authorities reported on Saturday.

According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia launched 273 UAVs into Ukraine overnight, 252 of which were shot down or electronically intercepted.

Also on Saturday, Zelenskyy and Emirati state media reported a meeting between the Ukrainian President and his Emirati counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss regional security during the Iran war.

Later the same day, Zelenskyy made a post on X saying that he had arrived in Qatar.

“True security is built on partnership, we value everyone and remain open to supporting anyone who is ready to work together towards this goal,” he wrote alongside a video of himself exiting the plane and shaking hands with Qatari officials.

The war in the Middle East broke out a month ago when the USA and Israel attacked Iran. The Islamic Republic retaliated by attacking Israel and the Gulf Arab States and blockading the Strait of Hormuz, an important waterway. The war disrupted global travel and caused oil prices to soar, with economic effects extending far beyond the region.

Last week, Zelenskyy was in Kiev aid to five countriesThe UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan oppose Tehran’s drone attacks on their territory.

After his meeting with the Emirati leader, he commented on X, “For Ukraine, this is also a matter of principle: terrorism should not prevail anywhere in the world. Protection should be adequate everywhere.”

He added that they discussed “the security situation in the Emirates, Iranian attacks and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which directly affects the global oil market.”

On Thursday, the Ukrainian leader visited Saudi Arabia. Days ago, he said he was exploring whether Kiev could play a role in restoring security in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the Emirates News Agency, Zelenskyy and Al Nahyan discussed “security developments in the region amid ongoing military tensions and their impact on regional and international peace and security, as well as their impact on international navigation and the global economy.”

Ukraine has grown rapidly to become one of the world’s leading manufacturers of cheap and effective, state-of-the-art, battle-tested drone interceptors. They play an important role in the defense of Russia against children over 4 years old full scale invasion.

In return for its aid to the Gulf countries Ukraine is calling They have more high-end air defense missiles and Kiev needs to thwart Russian attacks.

A child died in Russia when a Ukrainian drone crashed into a private house in Russia’s western Yaroslavl region early on Saturday, local Governor Mikhail Evraev said.

According to Evraev’s Telegram post, after the attack, the child’s parents were seriously injured and hospitalized. According to Evraev, a female neighbor was also injured in the attack, which resulted in the shooting down of more than 30 unmanned aerial vehicles in the area at night. He said several private homes and a retail building were damaged.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said on Saturday that 155 Ukrainian drones were shot down over Russia and occupied Crimea overnight.