Russia and Ukraine trade deadly strikes as Zelensky anticipates diplomacy at UN

Rescuers work at a building destroyed during a Russian strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine (Kateryna Klochko/AP)

Russia and Ukraine swapped accusations of deadly drone strikes on civilian areas on Monday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky anticipated “a very intense week” of diplomacy at the UN General Assembly in New York, where the Security Council was expected discuss the more than three-year war.

Mr Zelensky has tried to give momentum to a US-led peace effort, offering a ceasefire and a summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.