Zelensky’s peace mission in Turkey overshadowed by deadly Russian strikes

Russia pummelled Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones overnight, killing at least 19 people and throwing doubt over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s attempts to “reinvigorate” the peace process with talks in Ankara later on Wednesday.

“Nineteen people were killed as a result of a massive combined Russian strike on the city. Another 66 people were wounded, including 16 children,” the interior ministry said on social media.

Authorities warned the death toll could rise further.

Zelensky touched down in Turkey on Wednesday morning for a trip that had seemed to raise the prospects of a revival in stalled diplomatic efforts to broker an end to Russia’s invasion.

But Moscow’s wave of overnight attacks was the latest in an intensifying campaign targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and hitting a number of civilian sites as winter approaches.

The strikes hit two multi-storey residential buildings in the western city of Ternopil, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said on social media.