Terrifying scenes in Ukraine: a park with children attacked. They report casualties.

Russian drones struck multiple locations across Ukraine on Friday, killing at least three people and causing widespread power outages affecting over a million residents. The attacks targeted cities such as Kharkiv, Volyn, and Rivne, with explosions reported at shopping centers, industrial facilities, and energy infrastructure. In Kharkiv, three fatalities were confirmed, including a 71-year-old woman and a 58-year-old man, along with 12 additional injuries. The mayor of Kharkiv noted that one drone hit a major market within the city. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 149 long-range drones during the night and early morning. Of these, 27 were not intercepted and reached unspecified targets. Emergency services worked to extinguish fires caused by the attacks, with efforts ongoing to restore power to affected areas. In the northwestern region of Volyn, approximately 370,000 residents faced temporary power cuts due to damage to the electrical grid. By late morning, about 100,000 of them had regained electricity, though disruptions could persist for up to 24 hours in the regional capital, Lutsk. The attacks extended beyond Ukraine, with reports indicating that Russian authorities confirmed a Ukrainian drone strike on a major oil refinery in Ryazan. This marked a rare instance of Russia publicly acknowledging such an attack, which occurred shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump declared an energy ceasefire. Despite this, Ukraine resumed strikes on Russian oil refineries, citing continued aggression from Russia against its energy infrastructure. In addition to the attacks on Ukrainian soil, Russian forces claimed to have intercepted 126 drones targeting the region of Saint Petersburg, resulting in one fatality and five injuries. Fires broke out at the Saint Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Ruchyi oil depot, prompting restrictions at Pulkovo Airport for safety reasons. Industrial zones, including a logistics center operated by Ozon, also suffered damage from the drone strikes. The conflict's impact extended into the Baltic states, where Lithuania issued alerts for its citizens in central and northern regions due to an unknown flying object. NATO fighter jets were deployed, and Kaunas Airport was closed temporarily. Latvia similarly issued warnings in certain border regions, citing potential threats. These incidents underscore concerns about the possibility of the conflict spreading into NATO territory. Meanwhile, European leaders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine amid ongoing tensions. The European Union emphasized its inability to replace the Starlink system used by Ukraine for military communications in the near term. High-level meetings in Brussels saw discussions on increasing support for Ukraine and intensifying pressure on Russia to accept a lasting ceasefire and return to negotiations. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude for the continued backing from European leaders, describing them as true leaders for standing alongside Ukraine from the beginning of the war. Discussions also touched upon Ukraine's path toward EU membership, with plans to initiate talks on remaining negotiation chapters before year-end. As the situation continues to evolve, the focus remains on restoring essential services and addressing the humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict. Efforts to stabilize the energy grid and ensure security in vulnerable regions remain critical priorities for both Ukrainian authorities and international allies.