Three people were killed and another wounded in a Russian drone strike at a bus stop in Balabyne, Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region. A separate attack struck a spent nuclear fuel storage facility nine miles from the Chernobyl power plant.
Ukraine's state-owned operator, Energoatom, confirmed the facility was empty but suffered partial destruction and a fire covering 430 square feet. The blaze was extinguished within an hour, with radiation levels remaining safe. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi called the incident deeply concerning and pledged an immediate site visit.
In retaliation, Ukrainian forces targeted Russia's Kursk region, killing one and injuring a woman. Earlier, Kyiv launched a major drone strike on St. Petersburg, injuring three and challenging President Vladimir Putin's narrative that the war remains distant from Russian daily life.
Amidst escalating hostilities, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The E3 group discussed ongoing support and security guarantees as the conflict enters its fifth year with no end in sight.