Escalating its attacks on Ukraine, Russia struck the Ukrainian Navy reconnaissance ship Simferopol. The Ukrainian Navy later confirmed the strike and reported the death of a crew member.The vessel was hit by a naval drone in the Danube River delta, part of which lies in Ukraine’s Odesa region, Russia Today reported, citing the defence ministry.“Efforts to address the aftermath of the attack are ongoing. The majority of the crew are safe, and the search for several missing sailors continues,” Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk told the Kyiv Independent.A Laguna-class ship, Simferopol was launched in 2019 and joined the Ukraine Navy two years later. It is designed for radio, electronic, radar, and optical reconnaissance, and armed with a 30 mm AK-306 artillery system.Russia’s missile and drone attack on KyivRussia launched a massive overnight drone and missile attack on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, on Thursday, killing at least 21 people, wounding 48, and damaging European Union diplomatic offices, authorities said.Also Read | ‘Not happy, not surprised’: Trump unsurprised by deadly Russian strikes on Kyiv; White House calls for de-escalationThe victims included four children aged between two and 17, according to Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s city administration. He warned that more people may still be trapped under the rubble as search and rescue operations continued.Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 598 strike drones and decoys along with 31 missiles in what it described as the Kremlin’s second-largest assault since the war began in February 2022. At least 33 sites across all 10 districts of Kyiv were directly hit or damaged by falling debris. Nearly 100 buildings, including a central shopping mall, were damaged, with thousands of windows shattered.On Friday, the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting at the request of Ukraine and the five European Council members: Britain, France, Slovenia, Denmark and Greece.
