Zelenskyy: Russia 'avoiding peace talks' after striking US-owned factory
A U.S.-owned electronics factory, Flex, in western Ukraine's Zakarpattia region, has been hit by a Russian missile strike.
The attacks show Moscow is avoiding peace talks, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He was speaking on the evening of 21 August after large-scale Russian attacks overnight targeted various parts of Ukraine.
Mr Zelenskyy described the missile strike on the US-owned electronics company as an "eloquent" indicator of Russia's intentions.
"They are trying to avoid meetings. They don't want to end the war and are continuing with massive attacks," he added.
Russia used at least 574 drones and 40 missiles in the latest attacks, which were among the most extensive since the beginning of the war, Mr Zelenskyy said. One person was killed and 22 were injured.
Of the 22 people injured, 19 were wounded in the attack on the US-owned Flex electronics factory in the Zakarpattia region. Warehouses in the area were damaged.
"It was a very telling strike, committed just as the world is waiting for a clear response from the Russians on their moves to end the war," Mr Zelenskyy said.
Russia has not commented on Mr Zelenskyy's claim that its military deliberately struck a US-owned facility, but Moscow denies targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.
A mayor from the area near the damaged factory said it was owned by the American company Flex and employed thousands of people.
In the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, the strikes killed one person, injured three others and damaged 26 homes, said Governor Maksym Kozytskyi.
Authorities in the south-eastern Dnipropetrovsk region reported damage to factories, homes and gas pipelines. Two industry sources told Reuters that a major gas pumping station was attacked, but did not specify the location.
The Russian Ministry of Defence said it had hit Ukrainian energy and airport infrastructure as well as military facilities. It also claimed to have captured another village on the frontline - Oleksandro-Shultyne.
For its part, Ukraine said it had struck a Russian oil refinery, a drone depot and a fuel base.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
