Russia and Ukraine trade accusations over overnight drone strikes
Ukrainian officials reported seven injured in Kremenchuk, while Russia's Defense Ministry claimed hits on a plant and substations in Ukraine.
Russia and Ukraine accused each other on Monday of carrying out overnight air strikes that injured seven people in Ukraine, a day before renewed US-mediated peace talks are set to begin in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates capital, Turkey's state-run news agency Anadolu Agency reported.
Poltava Governor Vitaliy Dyakivnych said in a statement on Telegram late Sunday that Russian drones struck a 16-story residential building and a hotel in Kremenchuk, injuring seven people.
Ukraine's State Emergency Service said rescuers saved 15 residents after the strikes on the city, and that fires caused by the attacks have been put out.
Dnipropetrovsk Governor Oleksandr Hanzha claimed that air defenses in his region shot down 23 Russian drones, and said the strikes damaged an enterprise in Dnipro and infrastructure in Kamianske.
Ukraine's Air Force claimed its air defenses shot down 271 of 317 drones launched by Russia overnight.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its overnight strikes hit facilities supporting Ukraine's military-industrial complex, including a plant in Hlobyne, and damaged electrical substations in several Ukrainian regions.
The ministry also claimed Russian air defenses shot down 430 Ukrainian drones over 14 regions and Crimea.
Leningrad Governor Alexander Drozdenko claimed on the Russian social media platform Max that 113 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over his region, and said debris damaged an apartment in Kirishi and a roof in Vsevolozhsk without causing casualties.
Independent verification of the claims from either side is difficult because of the ongoing war.
Both countries deny deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, saying their strikes are aimed only at military targets.
The talks in Abu Dhabi are scheduled to start on Tuesday with Russian, Ukrainian and US representatives.
Russia and Ukraine last held US-mediated talks earlier this year, with three rounds on Jan. 23-24, Feb. 4-5 and Feb. 17-18, the first two in Abu Dhabi and the third in Geneva.
