Ukrainian MP wants 'transparent' approach on sanctions

A Ukrainian MP has called for a transparent approach in relation to sanctions imposed on Russia, adding that loopholes to get around them should be closed.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mariia Mezentseva said that sanctions should be applied to all sectors and that an investigation into Aughinish Alumina by the Government is a "step ahead".

Aughinish Alumina, a refinery based in Co Limerick, is facing allegations that alumina shipped from the plant is ending up in Russian weapons.

Ireland is investigating the refinery's exports and its ownership by sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

Speaking in Dublin earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he was very interested in the investigation, remarking that he hoped it would not take a month for it to conclude.

Tánaiste Simon Harris said that the investigation into Aughinish Alumina and where its products end up is nearing completion.

The company has previously warned the Government that any attempt to sanction its sale of alumina to Moscow would have implications for Ireland's national gas and electricity grids.

Ms Mezentseva, who is Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, said that sanctions should be applied to all sectors.

"I think the approach should be very transparent here," she said.

"We had numerous packages of sanctions at the level of EU, at the level of American partners, G7, worldwide."

She said that if rules are applied to one sector, then it should be applied to others as well, setting a precedent that avoids loopholes.

"If there are loopholes, we should work with the Special Office of the European Commission based in Brussels and help national governments to see those loopholes and shut down, something which is not serving our common security policy," Ms Mezentseva said.

Death toll from Russian strikes on Kyiv rises to 30

The death toll from a massive Russian barrage on the Ukrainian capital has risen to at least 30 people, as both Ukraine and Russia vowed fresh assaults.

Mr Zelensky said his forces would "definitely" retaliate for the attacks, as he inspected an apartment block that was partially destroyed.

The European Union's top diplomat also proposed new sanctions on Moscow, as Mr Zelensky pressed the United States for licences to manufacture Patriot air-defence missiles.

UN chief Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Russia's barrage and repeated a ceasefire call.

"Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure wherever they occur are a clear violation of international humanitarian law and must stop immediately," said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

But the Kremlin vowed to further ramp up "pressure" on Ukraine, sticking to its no-compromise rhetoric.

Four people were killed in an overnight Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region, its governor said, with a toddler and her mother among the victims.

He said a drone hit an apartment building and set it on fire.

Three more people were wounded in the attack

Russia has routinely launched waves of missiles and drones during its invasion, Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.

AFP journalists in central and eastern Kyiv heard more than a dozen explosions and saw residents rushing to shelter in metro stations.

Blasts started echoing out late on Wednesday, lasting into the early hours of Thursday as Russian missiles and drones rained down on residential areas in the city centre.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko described it as the "enemy's most massive attack on the capital".

Ukraine's state emergency service said that the strikes had killed 30 people, increasing an earlier toll after three more bodies were pulled from the rubble.

The head of the city's military administration Tymur Tkachenko said 91 people were wounded.

The Ukrainian branch of the Red Cross said its key warehouse had been destroyed and around $2 million worth of humanitarian aid lost.

Debris also damaged a building "hosting a number of diplomats", EU spokeswoman Anitta Hipper said, adding that the EU diplomats were safe.

And in Kryvyi Rig, two people were wounded when a missile struck a densely populated area, the head of the central city's military administration said early this morning.

Ukraine urged its allies to send more air defences.

"We also very much count on a decision by the United States regarding licences for Patriots," Mr Zelensky said in a post on Facebook yesterday.

Later, after talks with Finland's President Alexander Stubb, he added: "Defending against ballistic missiles is impossible without a sufficient number of missiles for Patriot systems."

Ukraine wants to manufacture munitions for the US-made missile interceptor system, but defence experts say it would take time to set up production domestically.

A US official said President Donald Trump wanted a peace deal to end the "senseless killing" in Ukraine.

Russia fired 496 drones and 74 missiles, including hard-to-intercept ballistic projectiles, Ukraine's air force said.

It said it shot down 48 of the missiles and 476 drones.

Some 52,000 people, including 4,500 children packed into underground stations to shelter from the barrage - the highest number in recent years, according to the Kyiv metro.

Others hunkered down in basements or corridors through the night as blasts shook buildings across the city.

The EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said she would propose new sanctions on Moscow over the attack.

The attack came hours after Mr Zelensky cut short a visit to Dublin on Wednesday, citing intelligence reports of an impending Russian strike.

Mr Zelensky said Russian President Vladimir Putin "has been preparing this massive strike against Ukraine for some time now".

Ukraine has stepped up long-range drone attacks inside Russia in recent weeks, targeting energy infrastructure and military targets.

Two people were killed in Ukrainian strikes targeting two Russian regions close to the border, local authorities said.

Belgorod city mayor Valentin Demidov said in a statement on Telegram that Ukraine had "carried out a missile strike" this morning, alleging that the attack had targeted "civilian infrastructure" and caused water and electricity shortages in the city of more than 300,000.

In the Bryansk region, a man was killed and two other people were injured in drone attacks, according to the acting regional governor.

In total, Russia shot down 155 Ukrainian drones overnight over its regions and the annexed Crimea, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.