Two people were killed and three were injured in the Russian Tula region during an attack carried out by 11 drones, TASS reported, quoted by BTA, citing Governor Dmitry Milyaev.
At the same time, the Russian Defense Ministry said that in the past three hours, Russian air defenses had destroyed 27 Ukrainian drones over several Russian regions - 11 over the Tula region, 7 over the Bryansk region, 5 over the Oryol region, 2 over the Kaluga region and 1 over the territory of the Moscow region and Ryazan region.
Shortly before, at least 19 people were injured in a Russian air strike in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhia, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported, quoted by Reuters.
Russia attacks Zaporizhia with guided aerial bombs, hitting residential areas, a bus station and a clinic, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry wrote in an article in “Ex“.”““At least 19 people were injured, one of whom was pulled out by rescue teams from the rubble of destroyed buildings“, the article added.““Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said rescue teams, doctors and police officers were working to help after the strike in Zaporizhia.””””””. The region's governor, Roman Bugarygin, said an industrial plant had been damaged and one person had died.
Another refinery in Ukhta in the Komi Republic in northwestern Russia, about 2,000 kilometers from the front line, was damaged, according to a Ukrainian intelligence source. Local authorities confirmed a drone attack in the area, but did not say whether the refinery had been damaged.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia was trying to mislead Washington a few days before the planned meeting between the US and Russian presidents in Alaska, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
“We realize that Russia intends to try to deceive America, and we will not allow this”, Zelensky said in his evening address.
The Ukrainian president has not yet been invited to the summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska on August 15. However, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker told CNN that he did not rule out the possibility of Zelensky being invited to the talks, but the decision would be made by Trump.
In his evening address, Zelensky said he appreciated Trump's determination to end the war in Ukraine, but added that the only reason the killings in his country continue is Putin's desire to fight and manipulate anyone who comes into contact with him.
Zelensky stressed that he would reject any peace agreement that includes territorial concessions. "We will certainly defend our country and our independence", he stressed.
"There is clear support for the principle that everything concerning Ukraine should be decided with the participation of Ukraine", he stressed.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he hoped that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would participate in the summit between Russia and the United States in Alaska, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
In an interview with public broadcaster ARD, Merz said that he would speak by phone with US President Donald Trump today.
"We are preparing intensively at the European level together with the US government for this meeting", Merz said. "And we hope and assume that the Ukrainian government and President Zelensky will participate in this meeting," he added.
Zelensky today secured diplomatic support from Europe and NATO ahead of the Russia-US summit, at which Kiev fears that Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump may try to impose conditions to end the war that has been going on for 3 and a half years.
"We cannot accept that territorial issues are resolved between Russia and America through the heads of the Europeans and Ukrainians," Merz said.
He added that there can be no peace that rewards Russia's aggressive actions and possibly encourages and encourages further actions.