At least 19 killed in Russian drone strikes on Ukraine

At least 19 people have been killed in separate Russian drone attacks on Ukraine.

Authorities say 15 people were killed and more than 130 wounded when two Russian drones struck a shopping centre in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih.

Twenty-two children were among the wounded in the daytime attack on President Volodymyr Zelensky's hometown, regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha said on the Telegram messaging app.

And the country's Interior Minister Ivan Vygivsky said at least four people had been killed in a separate drone strike in the Mykolaiv region, three of them children.

Of the attack on Kryvyi Rig, Mr Hanzha said on the Telegram messaging app: "There ‌are 29 people ⁠in serious condition, including five children."

He posted a photo of black smoke billowing from a large industrial building.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blasted Russia for the attack which took place in his hometown.

"An absolutely cynical and despicable strike was carried out by the Russians against an ordinary shopping center in Kryvyi Rig," he said on X.

"Attacks like these are nothing ‌less than terrorist acts," Mr Zelensky said on Telegram, urging ⁠the world ‌to hold Russia to account.

Oleksandr Ganzha, head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional military administration earlier said that the number of casualties was "growing".

Shops inside the mall were on fire, he added.

Unverified videos on social media showed rescuers helping people with bleeding wounds near the shopping centre.

Several showed what appeared to be a second drone crashing into the roof of the smoking building minutes after the first.

The country's Interior Minister Ivan Vygivsky said for people had been killed in a separate strike in the Mykolaiv region, three of them children.

Kryvyi Rig has come under repeated Russian attacks throughout the war.

The industrial city lies roughly 60 kilometres from the front line.

Russia has intensified its bombardments of Ukrainian cities in recent months, with the United Nations reporting that the civilian death toll in 2026 has risen to its highest level since the first months of the war.

Ukraine has also stepped up its own attacks on Russia, targeting oil facilities and logistics infrastructure to try to undermine Moscow's ability to wage war.

Ukraine allies to meet on Monday

Countries allied with Ukraine will meet on Monday to reaffirm support for Kyiv, in talks held on Ukraine's independence day, the French presidency has said.

The meeting of the Coalition of the Willing will be co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron - joining via video link - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the Elysee Palace said.

Around 10 leaders including European Council chief Antonio Costa will be in Kyiv for the coalition meeting, according to an EU official.

NATO announced that its deputy secretary-general Radmila Shekerinska would take part remotely.

The meeting comes as Moscow has increasingly targeted the Ukrainian capital with ballistic missiles.

President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday urged a global response to Moscow's "escalation" of the four-year war.

In July, representatives of the 37 coalition members - including Mr Zelensky - gathered for the 16th meeting of the Coalition of the Willing.

It was launched by France and the United Kingdom to provide military support to Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

During the meeting, allies announced more air-defence support for Kyiv, as well as exercises of the force to be deployed after a ceasefire in efforts to increase pressure on Russia to end the war.

Australia charges man over informing Russia on Ukraine

Australian police said that a man has been charged with foreign interference for allegedly seeking to inform Russia about Ukrainian military activities.

The 27-year-old Russian-Australian citizen had "military style" training in Russia and later joined the Ukrainian armed forces, Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett told a news conference.

"We don't want Australia to become a safe haven for people who are undertaking foreign interference on behalf of other countries," she said.

Police alleged he travelled to Russia for the training in October 2024.

He then returned to Australia, they say, where he "maintained contact" with individuals he believed were linked to Russian intelligence.

He travelled to Ukraine in 2025, police allege, where he enlisted in the country's armed forces and "gained access to information relating to their military personnel, units and locations".

He then "provided, or attempted to provide, information obtained in Ukraine to individuals he believed were acting on behalf of Russian intelligence services," Ms Barrett said.

"It is alleged this conduct created a risk to the safety and security of Ukrainian military personnel."

The crime of intentional foreign interference carries a penalty of 20 years' imprisonment in Australia.