• Ukrainian President threatens more drone attacks on Russia

Federal Government has expressed grief over the death of a 23-year-old Nigerian medical graduate, Miss Marian Adaobi Nnani, who was killed following a Russian aerial attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, describing the incident as a tragic loss.

According to the ministry, Nnani, a graduate of the Kharkiv National Medical University, reportedly died from injuries she sustained during the attack on the eastern Ukrainian city.

The government extended its condolences to her family, friends, colleagues and members of the Nigerian community affected by the incident.

It also prayed for the peaceful repose of the deceased and for strength for her family to bear the loss.

The ministry disclosed that it had commenced efforts to verify the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Federal Government reiterated its concern over the continued loss of civilian lives in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and renewed its call for an immediate end to hostilities.

It urged all parties to embrace dialogue, diplomacy and the peaceful resolution of disputes in line with international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

The ministry further reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to protecting the welfare of its citizens abroad, assuring that it would continue to monitor developments and provide the necessary support through its diplomatic missions.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has threatened that thousands of drones would fly to Moscow and St. Petersburg, as Ukraine expands its long-range aerial campaign against Russia.

In a series of posts yesterday on Telegram, Zelenskyy said the war had entered a new phase focused on control of the skies and described long-range drone strikes as a key element of Ukraine’s strategy.

“When not a hundred drones fly in Moscow, but a thousand, and when he (Russian President Vladimir Putin) feels and sees it, he will be advised to move somewhere beyond the Urals,” he said.

Zelenskyy presented the drone strikes as having put Ukraine in control of Russia’s fuel and energy complex, saying: “We cut off logistics and took control of the fuel and energy complex.”

The Ukrainian leader renewed calls for additional Western military assistance, particularly air defence systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, saying Ukraine urgently needs more interceptor missiles.

Russia has repeatedly condemned Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on its territory as “terrorist attacks”, saying they mostly hit civilian infrastructure.