Russian drone strike on Ukraine's Sumy kills at least three amid onslaught of overnight attacks

By Emma De Ruiter with AP, EBU

At least three people, including one child, were killed in a Russian drone strike on the city of Sumy in northeastern Ukraine, officials said on Tuesday.

The attack was part of a mass overnight strike that hit several parts of Ukraine. Some 45 explosions were recorded in the Sumy region, and the Ukrainian military said air defences destroyed 42 out of 60 drones launched by Russia across the country.

According to the regional governor, Ihor Kalchenko, the strike on Sumy targeted a residential neighbourhood and critical infrastructure.

Ukraine also launched a drone attack on Russia overnight, hitting several areas, including a biochemical plant and two distilleries.

A fire broke out at the chemical plant in Russia's Tambov region, which was later extinguished, Tambov Governor Maxim Yegorov said on Telegram.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said Tuesday it shot down 11 Ukrainian drones over the Bryansk region, three drones over Belgorod, two over Kursk and one each over the Tula and Oryol regions.

Ukraine is struggling to hold back a ferocious Russian campaign along the eastern front that is gradually compelling Kyiv’s forces to give up a series of towns, villages and hamlets. Ukrainians also face a hard winter after heavy Russian attacks on the country's power grid.

On an unannounced visit to Ukraine on Monday, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said his country “will get Ukraine what it needs” to fight its war with Russia, but gave no indication that Washington might endorse key planks of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's so-called “victory plan.”

Austin's remarks were notable for what they did not include — an endorsement of Ukraine being invited into NATO, or any indication the US will support Ukraine becoming more aggressive in its defence with longer-range attacks on Russian soil.