At least 16 killed in Ukrainian and Russian strikes as attacks intensfy

MOSCOW, July 25: At least 16 people were killed in Ukrainian and Russian strikes Saturday, in a deadly fifth summer of war as both sides intensify attacks, with diplomacy at a deadlock.

Ukrainian drones also targeted a Siberian oil refinery and the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, escalating strikes deep inside Russia -- which it says are aimed to weaken Russia's war effort and force the Kremlin to negotiate.

The deaths -- in Russian-occupied Ukraine, north-eastern Ukraine and Russian border villages -- come as the UN has warned of civilians dying in larger numbers recently in the almost 4.5-year war.

US-led talks on ending the fighting are at a deadlock, with Washington focused on the Middle East and Moscow intent on seizing the whole of eastern Ukraine.�"AFP