Russia's latest drone barrage against Ukraine kills two as allies meet in Paris

Russia launched its latest barrage on civilian and infrastructure targets across Ukraine killing two and injuring others, as Kyiv's allies prepared to meet in Paris on Tuesday for key talks that could help determine the country’s security amid Russia's ongoing all-out war, nearing its four-year mark.

Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 61 drones across several Ukrainian regions. It added that its air defences shot down 53 UAVs. Another eight managed to reach their targets, hitting six locations in the Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Sumy regions.

Regional authorities said one person was killed in Zaporizhzhia over the past day, and one more in Donetsk.

In Zaporizhzhia, three police officers were injured after a Russian strike hit their vehicle, according to Ivan Fedorov, head of the region's military administration.

In Kherson, an apartment building had its roof pierced as a result of the Russian shelling.

Liudmyla Midyanka, a resident of the damaged building, said a Russian shell struck the roof of the apartment block, after which apartments began to flood.

Midyanka said the resulting damage caused water to leak from electrical outlets. In some apartments, rooms were completely flooded.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's security service SBU said Ukrainian forces launched long-range strikes into Russia, hitting an ammunition facility in the Kostroma region and an oil facility in Lipetsk.

The strikes are the latest in a Ukrainian campaign against Russian military targets and oil infrastructure, as oil and gas remain key sources of revenue for Moscow's war against Ukraine.