Russia, Ukraine Trade Drone Strikes    09/21 06:19

   

   KYIV, Ukraine (AP) -- Russian drones blasted Ukraine's southern city of 
Zaporizhzhia, a day after Kyiv's forces fired more than 1,000 drones at Russia, 
officials said Monday.

   The war's relentless daily attacks underscore the absence of any significant 
progress in diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting, more than four years after 
Russia invaded its neighbor.

   There is no sign the war is abating as world leaders gather this week at the 
U.N. General Assembly. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he expects 
to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the annual event in New York. 
Russian President Vladimir Putin isn't due to attend.

   European leaders, fearing Moscow has malicious intentions on their 
continent, are keen to put further pressure on Putin to withdraw from Ukraine, 
but the Russian leader has given no indication he is ready to give up his goals.

   Russia hits apartment blocks and a shopping mall, officials say

   The Russian bombardment of Zaporizhzhia late Sunday hit apartment blocks, a 
university and a shopping mall, among other sites, and wounded five people, 
Zelenskyy said on social media Monday.

   Russia also struck nine other regions of Ukraine, he said.

   "Russia is not backing down from its escalation and is sending many signals 
that it is ready to expand the war," Zelenskyy said. "At the U.N. General 
Assembly, we will discuss how we can achieve peace through joint efforts."

   The Russian military overnight targeted Ukrainian logistics hubs, warehouses 
and ports, among other military-related sites, the Russian Defense Ministry 
said in a statement Monday.

   The attacks came after Ukraine launched a huge swarm of drones at Russia 
from Saturday to Sunday, including hundreds aimed at Moscow, as voters turned 
out for the third and last day of a carefully orchestrated parliamentary 
election.

   The Russian Defense Ministry said Monday that its air defenses overnight 
downed 244 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions and the waters of the Black 
Sea.

   Meanwhile, Ukraine's air force said Monday it shot down or suppressed 148 
Russian drones in an overnight attack.

   Moldova reports another drone incursion

   During the aerial barrages, drones have repeatedly strayed into neighboring 
countries, unnerving leaders who are wary of Russia and fear being dragged into 
conflict.

   Moldova's Ministry of Defense said Monday that part of the country's 
airspace in the north was temporarily closed overnight after surveillance 
systems detected an "aerial object" entering its national airspace shortly 
after midnight.

   In recent weeks, Moldova's airspace has been violated multiple times, and 
drone debris has been found on its territory. With electronic jamming knocking 
drones off course, it was not clear whether the drones were Russian or 
Ukrainian, though officials have often singled out Moscow for blame.

   Moldova's pro-Western President Maia Sandu has repeatedly condemned Russia 
for its war on Ukraine, and earlier this month said Moscow's "brutal war is 
reaching our border" following Russian strikes along Moldova's frontier with 
Ukraine.

   Drone incursions into Romania's airspace have also increased significantly.