Three Die in Russian Attacks Across Ukraine, Officials Say

A view shows a hotel building damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine September 3, 2024. (Reuters)
A view shows a hotel building damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine September 3, 2024. (Reuters)
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Three Die in Russian Attacks Across Ukraine, Officials Say

A view shows a hotel building damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine September 3, 2024. (Reuters)
A view shows a hotel building damaged by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine September 3, 2024. (Reuters)

An eight-year-old boy was among two people killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region overnight, while a third person died in a missile attack on the central city of Dnipro, Ukrainian officials said.

The interior ministry said the strike on a hotel complex in Zaporizhzhia killed a 38-woman and her son, injuring her husband and teenage daughter, who was receiving intensive care.

The past day saw 313 attacks and instances of shelling on 11 settlements, damaging several buildings in Zaporizhzhia, regional governor Ivan Fedorov said, including a missile attack on the city of the same name, which is the region's administrative center.

The Ukrainian air force said it shot down 27 out of 35 drones during Russia's overnight attack which also used four missiles.

Mykolaiv's regional governor Vitaliy Kim said an overnight missile attack on the southern region did not result in any casualties.

Kyiv's regional governor Ruslan Kravchenko also reported no damage to critical infrastructure or casualties following air defense work in the region. He said debris caused fires in forest areas and minor damage to a high-rise.

Local authorities in the northern city of Chernihiv said the drone attack dealt minor injuries to two people.

Late on Monday Russian forces also launched missiles at the central city of Dnipro, killing one person and injuring six, while damaging homes in one district, Serhiy Lysak, the regional governor of Dnipropetrovsk, said on Telegram.

Reuters could not independently verify the reports.

There was no immediate comment from Russia. Moscow denies targeting civilians in the war it started with a full-scale invasion of its smaller neighbor in 2022.



Türkiye Arrests Alleged Mossad Financial Operative

Ferries sail on the Bosphorus backdropped by the Blue Mosque during the sunset in Istanbul, Türkiye, 01 September 2024.  EPA/ERDEM SAHIN
Ferries sail on the Bosphorus backdropped by the Blue Mosque during the sunset in Istanbul, Türkiye, 01 September 2024. EPA/ERDEM SAHIN
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Türkiye Arrests Alleged Mossad Financial Operative

Ferries sail on the Bosphorus backdropped by the Blue Mosque during the sunset in Istanbul, Türkiye, 01 September 2024.  EPA/ERDEM SAHIN
Ferries sail on the Bosphorus backdropped by the Blue Mosque during the sunset in Istanbul, Türkiye, 01 September 2024. EPA/ERDEM SAHIN

Türkiye arrested a Kosovan national accused of managing the financial network of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency in the country, the Turkish intelligence organization said on Tuesday.

Liridon Rexhepi was detained in Istanbul on Aug. 30, suspected of transferring funds to Mossad personnel operating in Türkiye, Reuters quoted the Turkish intelligence agency MIT as saying.

Türkiye, which has denounced Israel for its war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, has this year detained more than 20 people suspected of having ties to Mossad.

Rexhepi had been under surveillance since his entry into Türkiye on Aug. 25, the MIT statement said. He is alleged to have facilitated financial transfers from eastern European countries, primarily Kosovo, to Mossad agents in Türkiye.

The statement said the funds transferred by Rexhepi were reportedly used for intelligence gathering in Syria, conducting psychological operations against Palestinians, and coordinating drone-related operations.

Rexhepi used money transfer services to move funds into Türkiye. Once in the country, the funds were distributed to field operatives who, in turn, channeled some of the money to assets in Syria, often utilizing cryptocurrency for these transactions, the sources said.