International
A total of 43 civilians have been killed as a result of the Russian attacks on Monday
A total of 43 civilians have died so far in Ukraine as a result of the massive attack launched by Russia against Kiev and the Dnipropetrovsk region during Monday.
The death toll in the Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital continues to grow as the debris debris work progresses and already stands at 31 civilian fatalities, according to the latest part offered by the Kiev Military Administration, which figures 117 injured.
On the other hand, Russia denounced a massive Ukrainian drone attack against five regions of the south and the center of the country.
In addition, Ukraine’s health facilities have suffered 1,884 attacks since the Russian invasion, in which 150 people have died and 379 have suffered injuries, the World Health Organization (WHO) said a day after a children’s hospital in Kiev was hit by a missile.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, which so far has not reported any victims, the air defense systems shot down a total of 38 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones last night.
The military side specified that the enemy drones were shot down in the regions of Belgorod (3), Kursk (7), Voronezh (2), Rostov (21) and Astrajan (5).
Although last night’s drone attack did not cause casualties in the Belgorod region, the governor of that border entity with Ukraine, Viacheslav Gladkov, denounced on his Telegram channel that yesterday four civilians were killed and another 20 were injured by Ukrainian artillery fire.
In the Rostov region, a drone hit an electrical substation and caused a fire, which was extinguished by firefighters, the governor of the entity, Vasili Gólubev, reported in Telegran.
According to the authorities of the Astrajan region, the airstrike caused a fuel tank to fire.
For security reasons, the airports of the cities of Astrajan and Volgograd restricted their operations.
The governor of the Volgograd region, Andrei Bocharov, reported that due to the fall of fragments of drones shot down by the anti-aircraft defense, there were fires in an electric substation and a fuel tank.
In addition, a joint attack with drones from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and military intelligence (GUR) last night caused several fires at a military airfield in the Russian region of Astrajan and on energy infrastructures of the Russian oblasts of Rostov and Volgograd, according to sources from both Ukrainian services to the Ukrainska Pravda publication.
These attacks occurred after yesterday Russia launched dozens of missiles against several cities in Ukraine, causing about 40 deaths and more than a hundred injuries.
The Kremlin denied that the Russian Army is hitting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, after yesterday’s attack.
On the other hand, about 400 members of the Ukrainian emergency services continue to work on rescue work at the Ojmatdit children’s hospital in Kiev and in other places in the capital affected by the missile attack that Russia launched on Monday against the city, as explained on Tuesday by the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenski.
“In the places where the missiles hit, emergency and rescue work has not stopped all night,” Zelenski wrote in a message published on his social networks in which he confirms that the death toll from Monday’s Russian attack on Kiev and the Dnipropetrovsk region, in central Ukraine, is currently 38 victims. Of these, 31 lost their lives in the Ukrainian capital.
Zelenski also wrote that his administration continues to work “to strengthen the protection” of Ukrainian cities from Russian attacks. “There will be decisions. The world has the necessary strength for it,” added Zelenski, who will arrive in Washington today to participate in the NATO summit.
Ukraine hopes to obtain new decisions from its allies at the summit that will allow it to better defend itself from Russian airstrikes like yesterday’s.
Kiev asks for total freedom to hit, with weapons from its partners, enemy military targets within the territory of the Russian Federation and to be able to neutralize the attacks of the Russian Army at the origin and in a preventive way.
The United States and other allies continue to impose restrictions on the use of their weapons in Russian territory for fear of Moscow’s reaction.
International
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubiocould potentially form a Republican presidential ticket for the 2028 elections.
Speaking during a dinner with law enforcement officials as part of National Police Week, Trump publicly praised both officials and said they could make “an ideal team” for the next presidential race.
“Who likes JD Vance? Who likes Marco Rubio?” Trump asked attendees before adding that the pair “sound like a good combination.”
The president highlighted his vice president’s performance in office, stating that their current partnership has been highly effective. “JD is perfect, that has been a perfect formula,” Trump told reporters later.
He further suggested that a Vance-Rubio pairing could represent a strong presidential and vice-presidential ticket, although he stopped short of offering any formal endorsement.
“I think it sounds like a presidential candidate and a vice-presidential candidate,” he said, while clarifying that his remarks should not be interpreted as an official backing of any future campaign.
So far, neither Vance nor Rubio has publicly confirmed any intention to run in the 2028 presidential election.
Rubio previously sought the Republican nomination in 2016 but withdrew after losing the primary race to Trump. Later, in a December 2025 interview with Vanity Fair, he said he would be among the first to support Vance if he decided to run for the White House.
Vance, meanwhile, has recently dismissed speculation of any political rivalry with Rubio amid growing discussion about potential future GOP leadership.
International
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
Russia accused Ukraine on Saturday of violating a Victory Day truce that was reportedly agreed with mediation from the United States, claiming that Ukrainian forces carried out attacks on Russian territory as well as on the annexed Crimean peninsula.
Despite the declared ceasefire, the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Ukrainian forces attacked Russian military positions using attack drones and artillery.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces made twelve attempts to advance toward Russian-held positions across several sectors of the front line.
It also alleged that Ukrainian strikes targeted civilian infrastructure in Crimea, several border regions, the Caucasus, and other areas including Moscow and Perm in the Ural region.
The Defense Ministry estimated around 8,900 violations of the ceasefire in total, including more than 7,000 drone attacks and over 1,000 strikes involving tanks, artillery, multiple rocket launch systems, and mortars since the truce came into effect at midnight.
Russia said its forces responded “symmetrically” to what it described as violations by Ukrainian troops.
Earlier, the Kremlin denied claims that Ukraine attempted to sabotage a military parade in Red Square marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
“No attempts were made. Everything went well,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told local media.
International
Trump Says U.S.-Iran Talks Progressing, Signals Possible Deal on Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Washington is holding “very good” talks with Iran and stated that there is a strong possibility of reaching an agreement to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’ve had very good conversations over the last 44 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll reach an agreement,” Trump said during an event held in the Oval Office at the White House.
The president’s remarks came just hours after he announced a temporary suspension of the military operation aimed at escorting vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf due to Iran’s blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Trump explained that the pause in operations is intended to facilitate diplomatic negotiations between both sides and prevent further military escalation in the region.
“We’re in good shape, and right now things are going well. Now we have to achieve what we need to achieve. If we don’t, we’ll have to go much further,” the Republican president warned.
In a post published on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump reiterated that if Iran accepts Washington’s proposed conditions, military operations and the naval blockade affecting the Islamic republic would come to an end.
However, he also issued a new warning to the Iranian government, stating that the United States would respond with attacks “of greater intensity” if Tehran rejects the agreement promoted by the White House.

























