Russia has carried out a series of attacks across Ukraine with drones and S-300 missiles, while the European Commission announced an additional 50 billion euros ($54.6 billion) in aid to Kiev over the next four years.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klimenko announced that one person was killed and 8 members of rescue teams were wounded as a result of a Russian strike on the Kherson province (south of the country).
According to the Ukrainian prosecutor's office, which confirmed the toll in a statement, "a group of rescue workers came under Russian fire while working to clear the effects of the flood" caused by the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam in the province in early June.
Andrey Yermak, director of the Ukrainian president's office, said Russian forces fired shells at the group as they were clearing mud from the flood.
On the other hand, TASS quoted local authorities in the Russian-controlled areas of the Kherson province as saying that Ukrainian forces bombarded the town of Nova Kakhovka with drones, wounding 3 civilians.
Earlier, Ukrainian authorities said Russia had carried out a wave of attacks on infrastructure and military targets across the country since last night, mainly in the capital Kiev and the cities of Lviv (west) and Zaparozhia (south).
A drone explodes in the skies over Kiev (Reuters)
Dozens of marches
Ukrainian authorities announced the downing of 32 of the 35 Iranian-made Shahid drones, launched by Russia from the Bryansk region and from the Sea of Azov.
The Ukrainian president's office said that drones attacked the Kiev region in several waves, and the state of warning of air attacks lasted more than 4 hours, and explained that several commercial and administrative buildings and some private properties were damaged.
Ukraine's Energy Ministry said debris from the downing of drones destroyed power lines in the Kiev region, as well as in the Mykolaiv region in the south, knocking out power to hundreds of residents.
For its part, the Ukrainian air force said that Russia also bombed the city of Zaporizhia with Iskander missiles and "S-300".
The army command said seven rockets were fired in the attack on Zaporizhia, according to preliminary information.
In Lviv, the head of the local administration, Maxim Kozytzky, said a "very important" facility had been bombed, without giving details.
Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuri Ignat lamented the operational "lack of capabilities" needed to protect the entire Ukrainian territory from Russian air strikes that have intensified in recent weeks, as Ukraine carries out the first phase of its counteroffensive.
On the other hand, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that its forces targeted and destroyed 8 ammunition depots across Ukraine in the past 24 hours, and repelled Ukrainian attacks in 3 different directions.
Russian media quoted the ministry as saying in its daily statement that Ukrainian forces tried to launch attacks towards the Donetsk region and south of it and on the Zaporizhia region.
Europe trains Ukrainian troops
On the other hand, Western powers continue to make pledges to help Kiev financially and militarily, as the Ukrainian counteroffensive continues.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said today - in a statement - that "in 2023, the military assistance mission to Ukraine of the European Union plans to train 30,<> members of the Ukrainian armed forces, including soldiers of the regional defense forces."
The initial goal of the mission was to train just 15,<> personnel, but EU officials pledged in February to double the number.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that EU countries would allocate 50 billion euros in aid to Ukraine.
The unveiling of the aid came after a review of the EU budget for 2021-2027 and ahead of an international conference in London this week to raise more funds for Ukraine's post-war reconstruction efforts.