Russian drones cause fire at hotel in Ukrainian Black Sea city | Global News

Russian drones launched a devastating attack on the Black Sea city of Mykolaiv early Sunday, causing widespread damage to a hotel and energy infrastructure, according to local Ukrainian governor Vitaliy Kim. The strike set the hotel ablaze, but fortunately, there were no casualties reported. The governor also mentioned that the heat-generating infrastructure in the city was also damaged in the attack.

Reports from Russian state agency RIA claimed that the strike targeted a shipyard where naval drones are assembled, as well as a hotel housing “English-speaking mercenaries” who have fought for Kyiv. However, these claims could not be independently verified.

In a separate incident, the Russian Defence Ministry stated that 17 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight in four regions in the country’s southwest. Three drones were intercepted near an oil depot in Lyudinovo, with no casualties or damage reported.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has seen Russian shelling injuring at least seven civilians across the country, with fierce clashes in regions like Donetsk and Kharkiv. Despite ammunition shortages hampering Ukraine’s defences, a Washington-based think tank predicted that Russian forces could make significant gains in the coming weeks.

US President Joe Biden recently signed a $95 billion war aid measure, including assistance for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and other global hot spots. Biden promised to immediately rush badly needed weaponry to Ukraine, with shipments expected to begin within hours. The aid package aims to bolster Ukraine’s defences and support its ongoing fight against Russian aggression.