+++ News in the Ukraine War +++: Russia attacks gas stations in Kyiv

At least two people were killed in Russian drone attacks on gas stations in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Six of eight injured people were taken to hospitals, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram. The day before there had been the first direct attack on a gas station in the city of over a million inhabitants. In addition, a drone hit a nine-story residential building last night, Klitschko said. Eight people were injured. According to authorities, a woman was killed in a Russian drone strike in the Vyshhorod district in the Kyiv region. There was damage to warehouses. (dpa)

According to the Defense Ministry in Moscow, Russia shot down 777 Ukrainian drones on Friday night. The Russian ministry said they were intercepted in around 15 regions and the Crimean peninsula. According to the local governor Dmitry Milyaev, two people were killed in the Tula region, around 200 kilometers south of Moscow. Three other people were injured.

In the Volgograd region in southern Russia, two people were taken to hospital after a Ukrainian rocket attack on a residential building, said local governor Andrei Bocharov. Russia has been waging a large-scale offensive in Ukraine since February 2022. The Ukrainian army responds with attacks on targets in Russia. (afp)

In Saratov, which is also further north on the Volga River, a logistics center for the online retailer Ozon was set on fire by drones, according to the company. There were no injuries, Ozon said on Telegram. According to the information, the mail order company has temporarily stopped its activities in the Saratov region. At the end of August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave his armed forces the task of attacking the Russian hinterland with up to 1,000 drones every day. (dpa)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in India ahead of the summit of the Brics emerging market alliance. Putin arrived at an air base in the Indian capital New Delhi on Friday, images from the Russian news agency Ria Novosti showed. He was received there by Indian Foreign Secretary Kirti Vardhan Singh.

The heads of state and government of the Brics countries are meeting in New Delhi at the weekend. In addition to Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Peseschkian are expected to attend. The host is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The central topics are likely to be the Ukraine war and the Iran war and their global effects. (afp)

According to the government, at least five people were killed in a Russian attack on a shopping center in the eastern Ukrainian city of Pavlohrad. Another 67 people were injured, regional governor Oleksandr Hanja said on Thursday evening. Business premises and vehicles were damaged in the attack.

Ukrainian Interior Minister Ivan Vyhivskyi wrote on the Telegram online service that the attack in the city center of Pavlohrad occurred “in broad daylight” when the streets were full of people. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said: “Russia believes that incessant attacks on civilians can wear down Ukrainians and force Ukraine to make concessions.” The city of Pavlohrad is located in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Before the war, more than 100,000 people lived there. Since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the city has repeatedly been under heavy Russian fire. (dpa)

In the Russian border region of Belgorod, one person was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on the city of Novy Oskol, according to rescue workers. Six other people were injured. (dpa)

Canada and Ukraine want to significantly expand their cooperation in the production of drones. “Today, Canada and Ukraine sealed a new partnership that will equip the Canadian Armed Forces with world-leading drone capabilities, create jobs across Canada and support Ukraine in its fight for a just and lasting peace,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said at a news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Calgary, Canada.

Canada-Ukrainian cooperation will be expanded in all areas of drone production, “from critical metals and minerals to technical development,” it said in a statement. Canada also aims to create production capacity for “millions of drones” within the next two years. According to Carney, Canada has a total of 2,000 drones to date.

Carney also promised Ukraine aid for interceptor missiles for air defense and the Ukrainian security architecture. Zelensky explained that it was about ammunition for the Patriot defense systems, ammunition for F-16 fighter jets and drone production. Canada has pledged one billion dollars in military aid (620 million euros) and another billion for the protection of energy supplies and joint projects. 21 Ukrainian fighter jet pilots are currently being trained in Canada.

“With the investments announced today, Canada’s total commitments for diverse support to Ukraine since 2022 now total more than $26 billion,” the Canadian government said. Zelensky expressed his gratitude for Canada's willingness to participate in the development of the European Freyja missile defense system. (dpa)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj wants to meet with US President Donald Trump in New York at the end of September. “At the end of September, I think we will have the opportunity to meet the American team in New York,” Zelensky said Thursday at a news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Calgary. The general debate at the UN General Assembly will take place in New York at the end of September.

Zelensky had already said on Tuesday that he hoped to meet with Trump later this month. The Ukrainian president said he wanted to talk to the US President about a package to strengthen Ukraine's air defense. Ukraine relies on US-made Patriot missiles to protect itself against massive Russian airstrikes. Kyiv has complained about a growing shortage of interceptor missiles since the US launched the Iran war in February and diverted missile deliveries to the Gulf region. (afp)

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, there will be no trilateral meeting to end the war before the Russian parliamentary elections on September 20th. Ukrainian and US negotiators are in constant contact, said the head of state. He hopes for progress in talks on energy and grain issues at the end of September after a meeting with US President Donald Trump. (rtr)