Russia, Ukraine Trade Drone Strikes as Zelenskyy Prepares for High-Stakes UN Diplomacy

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Monday, September 22nd, 2025

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KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia and Ukraine on Monday traded accusations of deadly drone strikes on civilian areas, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepared for what he described as “a very intense week” of diplomacy at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where the Security Council is set to discuss the more than three-year-old war.
Zelenskyy has sought to inject new momentum into a U.S.-led peace initiative, proposing a ceasefire and a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow has rejected elements of the plan, and prospects for ending the conflict remain dim.
Tensions have spilled beyond Ukraine’s borders, with European governments warning of Russian provocations. Recent incidents include drones crashing in Poland and Russian fighter jets entering Estonian airspace, prompting an emergency Security Council meeting. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called the intrusion a “dangerous escalation,” while Russia’s deputy U.N. envoy Dmitry Polyanskiy dismissed the concerns as efforts to “blame Russia for everything.” Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said Moscow was probing NATO’s response while trying to weaken Western support for Kyiv.
Ahead of the UN gathering, Zelenskyy said he had scheduled nearly two dozen bilateral meetings, including with U.S. President Donald Trump, whose push for a peace deal has yet to yield progress. He urged stronger global resolve, warning that “without strength, peace will not prevail.”
Over the past week, Zelenskyy said, Russia launched more than 1,500 drones, 1,280 glide bombs and 50 missiles, many containing foreign-made components. Ukraine continues to call for tighter sanctions.
On the battlefield, Russian airstrikes hit the southern city of Zaporizhzhia overnight, killing three and wounding two, according to local officials. Ukraine reported shooting down 132 of 141 Russian drones. Moscow, meanwhile, said Ukrainian strikes killed three in Crimea and three in Russia’s Belgorod region.