INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The European Union condemned the strike along with the "escalation" of Russian attacks on "civilian objects" that has seen hundreds killed
or wounded in recent weeks."Intentional attacks against civilians are war crimes," the bloc said in a statement.Germany's Foreign Minister
Annalena Baerbock wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that "this Russian war of aggression is an attack on international law, on
humanity."Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said the incident underscored "the importance of continuing to support the
people of Ukraine as they defend their territory."'Build momentum'During a meeting with Zelensky, Blinken reiterated Washington's support
for Kyiv in its fight to liberate territory in the south and east."We are determined in the United States to continue to walk side by side
And President Biden asked me to come to reaffirm strongly our support," he told Zelensky."We see the important progress that's being made
now in the counteroffensive and that's very, very encouraging," he added.The new $1 billion aid package, which includes $665.5 million in
military and civilian security assistance, would further "build momentum" for the counteroffensive, Blinken said at a later press
controversial weapon due to its toxicity.Russia's Embassy in the United States said on Telegram that the move was "a clear sign of
inhumanity" on Washington's part."The U.S
is deliberately transferring weapons with indiscriminate effects," it said.The Kremlin earlier dismissed Blinken's visit, arguing U.S
pressing on with "offensive operations" towards eastern Ukraine's war-battered town of Bakhmut, which fell to Russian forces in May, and the
Moscow-occupied southern city of Melitopol.The boost in U.S
aid to Kyiv follows criticisms in recent weeks that Ukraine's counteroffensive has been too slow.Russia said Wednesday it had "improved its
tactical position" near the northwestern city of Kupiansk, where it has led a local offensive for weeks.It earlier hit Ukraine's
southwestern Odesa region, near the border with Romania, with overnight drone attacks killing one person.Early Thursday, Russia's Defense
Ministry said three Ukrainian drones had been destroyed during the night: one on the outskirts of Moscow and two over the southwestern
Rostov region."Several cars were damaged" in the center of Rostov, along with building facades and windows, regional governor Vasily Golubev
said on Telegram.One person sustained cuts but declined hospital treatment, he added.The Russian capital's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on
Telegram that debris from the "drone attack attempt on Moscow" caused no damage or casualties, according to initial reports.'Everything
possible and impossible'Ukrainian lawmakers approved Wednesday the nomination of Crimean Tatar Rustem Umerov as Kyiv's new wartime defense
minister, in what was hailed as a historic move.Crimean Tatars are an ethnic minority hailing from the Black Sea peninsula, which was
our country and every one of our people," he said on social media.The 41-year-old businessman has been involved in prisoner exchange
negotiations involving Saudi Arabia and grain export talks with Turkey and the United Nations.Zelensky had nominated Umerov as the new
defense minister after the resignation of Oleksiy Reznikov, calling for "new approaches" in the wake of several corruption scandals within
the ministry."It is the highest state post ever held by a Tatar (from Crimea)," Serhiy Leshchenko, an advisor to the presidential
administration, told AFP.
