Blinken's Visit to Kyiv; Russia Attacks Eastern Ukraine

Simultaneously with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Kyiv, Ukrainian officials announced that in an attack on Wednesday, September 6, Russian forces killed at least 16 people and injured many others in the industrial city of Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, stating that a market, shops, and a pharmacy in Kostiantynivka were targeted in a 'malicious Russian attack.' In a press conference in Kyiv, Zelensky described the act as a deliberate assault on a 'calm city,' saying, 'This is another terrorist attack by the Russian Federation. They deliberately targeted the market.' Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, Kostiantynivka had a population of nearly 70,000. The city is located about 30 kilometers from Bakhmut, a city that has recently been the scene of intense fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces, and is 580 kilometers from Kyiv, which is currently hosting Antony Blinken. Blinken traveled to Ukraine to demonstrate U.S. support for the country. In another news from Eastern Europe, Angel Tilvar, Romania's Defense Minister, stated two days after Ukraine reported that Russian drones had exploded in the territory of a NATO member country, that parts of a Russian drone had fallen in Romania. He added, 'I confirm that parts have been found that may belong to a drone. These parts will be analyzed to confirm their origin.' Earlier, Romania's Defense and Foreign Ministries and the President denied reports of drone explosions in Romania, stating that Russian attacks do not pose a direct threat to Romanian territory. Meanwhile, the British government declared that membership or support for the Russian Wagner mercenary group is illegal and plans to designate the group as a terrorist organization. The British Home Office stated on Wednesday that a draft order to be presented to Parliament would allow the assets of the Wagner group to be classified and seized as those of a terrorist organization. The statement noted that the Wagner group has been involved in looting, torture, and 'brutal killings' across Ukraine, the Middle East, and Africa. Suella Braverman, the British Home Secretary, also stated on Wednesday that this 'violent and destructive' group acts as 'Vladimir Putin's military tool abroad.' The head of the Wagner military mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, died on September 1 in what was termed an 'air accident' after his group halted a rebellion against the Kremlin and returned to their bases. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, dismissed Western countries' claims that Prigozhin was killed on orders from the Russian President as pure lies. He stated on Wednesday that the Wagner group does not legally exist. Zelensky is heading to New York to attend a Security Council meeting on the situation in Ukraine. Blinken made an unannounced visit to Ukraine. Zelensky: We have reclaimed more parts of Ukrainian territory. Cluster munition casualties in Ukraine have surpassed those in Syria. Zelensky's response to critics: Ukrainian soldiers are advancing. Ukraine shot down four Russian cruise missiles. Three U.S. senators met with Zelensky; Russia's combat power has decreased by '50 percent.' Biden's reaction to the crash of the Wagner leader's plane: I was not surprised by his death.