A Russian drone strike on Sumy, Ukraine kills at least three people in a spate of overnight attacks

At least three people, including one child, were killed in a Russian drone strike on the city of Sumy in northeastern Ukraine, officials said Tuesday.

The attack was part of a massive overnight strike that affected several parts of Ukraine. About 45 explosions were recorded in the Sumy region, and the Ukrainian military said its air defenses destroyed 42 of the 60 drones Russia launched across the country.

According to regional governor Ihor Kalchenko, the attack on Sumy targeted a residential area and critical infrastructure.

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Ukraine also launched a drone attack on Russia overnight, hitting several areas including a biochemical factory and two distilleries.

A fire broke out at the chemical plant in Russia’s Tambov region, which was later extinguished, Tambov Governor Maxim Yegorov said on Telegram.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday it shot down 11 Ukrainian drones over the Bryansk region, three drones over Belgorod, two over Kursk and one each over the Tula and Oryol regions.

Ukraine is struggling to stop a brutal Russian campaign along the eastern front, which is gradually forcing Kiev’s forces to give up a series of towns, villages and hamlets. Ukrainians are also facing a harsh winter after heavy Russian attacks on the country’s power grid.

During an unannounced visit to Ukraine on Monday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said his country “will get Ukraine what it needs” to fight its war with Russia, but he gave no indication that Washington will review key plans Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s so-called “victory plan.”

Austin’s comments were notable for what they did not contain: a statement of support for Ukraine’s entry into NATO, or any indication that the US will support Ukraine in becoming more aggressive in its defense with longer-range attacks on Russian territory.