3 children among 11 dead in Russian strikes on Ukraine

A Russian airstrike on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on Monday resulted in at least 11 deaths, among them three children, according to regional authorities. Ukrainian national police reported Russia had targeted residential neighborhoods with five guided aerial bombs early in the morning, striking two residential buildings.

The strikes occurred a day after Ukrainian and European officials convened in Miami for diplomatic talks aimed at ending Russia's war in Ukraine. Mykhailo Semikin, head of Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, confirmed 11 civilian casualties, including the three young children. Rescuers were still searching for survivors under the debris.

A volunteer rescuer witnessed people being pulled from the rubble, including a woman, her husband, and their child. Another resident, Iryna, 69, recounted how she barely managed to escape through a toilet after receiving an air raid warning, as her husband, 75, perished outside. The Zaporizhzhia region, near the front line, has been a frequent target of Russian strikes amid a growing wave of civilian casualties.

Diplomatic efforts mediated by the United States to end the conflict have so far been unsuccessful, with the war entering its fifth year since Russia's full-scale invasion. Ukraine continues to face intense bombardments, resulting in over 58 deaths in the past four days. Following the Miami meeting, US envoy Steve Witkoff stated that constructive discussions covered avenues for de-escalation, grain exports, security guarantees, and long-term arrangements for Ukraine's and Europe's security, aiming for a durable peace.