Escalating Conflict Between Russia and Ukraine Intensifies

A Russian climber, Natalia Nagovitsyna, who broke her leg on Kyrgyzstan's highest mountain, Victory Peak, over two weeks ago, is presumed dead according to Kyrgyzstan officials. Despite several rescue attempts, including the use of a thermal-imaging drone, no signs of life were found. Nagovitsyna, 47, was climbing the 24,406-foot peak when she became stranded at around 23,000 feet. Her situation was complicated by extreme weather conditions and high altitude, making evacuation impossible according to experts. An Italian climber, Luca Sinigaglia, died attempting to rescue her, and other rescue efforts were hindered by harsh conditions. Nagovitsyna's husband also died in a climbing accident in 2021.

On Ukraine's 34th Independence Day, Russian officials reported that Ukrainian drones sparked a fire at a nuclear plant in Russia's Kursk region. The fire was quickly extinguished with no injuries or abnormal radiation levels. The strikes also hit several power facilities and a fuel export terminal at the port of Ust-Luga in Russia's Leningrad region. Russia's Defense Ministry reported intercepting 95 Ukrainian drones, while Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 72 drones and decoys and a cruise missile. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a "just peace" and emphasized Ukraine's strength and equality.

A Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, killed at least 4 people and injured 22 others. The strikes damaged a residential apartment block and a shopping mall, with residents trapped under the rubble. The attack occurred as Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, prepared to discuss security guarantees with the US team in New York, amid ongoing talks between Ukrainian and Russian leaders.

The Ukrainian capital Kyiv was hit by a massive Russian drone and missile attack, killing at least eight people and injuring 30. The attack was the first major combined Russian strike on Kyiv in weeks and came as US-led peace efforts to end the three-year war struggled to gain traction. The attack damaged nearly 100 buildings, including a shopping mall in the city centre, and shattered thousands of windows. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, saying 'Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table.' The numbers of dead and injured were expected to rise as rescue teams worked to pull people trapped underneath the rubble. The attack was seen as a significant escalation of the conflict, with Russian strikes hitting the central part of Kyiv, one of the few times Russian attacks have reached the heart of the Ukrainian capital since the start of the full-scale invasion.