News Wrap: Russia uses drones to attack Ukrainian cities

Judy Woodruff:

Ukraine's capital city is spending a tense night after Russia unleashed a barrage of drones laden with explosives. Authorities say that at least four people were killed.

It came as the European Union approved nearly half-a-billion dollars for Ukraine to buy more weapons.

John Yang reports on this day.

John Yang:

People ran for shelter as drones descended on Kyiv. The strikes tore through buildings, sparking fires and leaving behind ash and debris. Residents were in shock.

Vitali Dushevskiy, Kyiv Resident (through translator):

It is murder. It is simply murder. There are no other words for it. We are all so shaken, we don't even know what to do.

John Yang:

The strikes were carried out by explosive suicide drones appearing to be Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones. First responders recovered some fragments of the autonomous drones.

"For Belgorod" was written on one of the pieces, a reference to a Russian region hit by Ukrainian shelling. At least five drones hit targets in Kyiv, including a residential building. Police and soldiers on the ground shot at least 13 others out of the sky.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President (through translator):

Russia stands no chance on the battlefield, and it tries to cover up its military defeats with terror. Why does it need terror? To put pressure on us, on Europe, on the whole world. Terrorists must be neutralized.

John Yang:

Despite the apparent Iranian origin of the drones, officials in Tehran denied all claims of involvement.

Nasser Kanaani, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman (through translator):

The Islamic Republic of Iran is not on any side of the war between Russia and Ukraine. The Islamic Republic of Iran has not exported any weapon to any side of the war.

John Yang:

But Ukrainian officials still called for sanctions against Iran, a position backed by several members of the European Union. And E.U. officials in Luxembourg today said they were investigating whether Iran was involved.

In Kyiv, residents did their best to carry on after the strikes. For the people of Ukraine, attacks like these remain a daily, horrific reality.

For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm John Yang.

Judy Woodruff:

Later, the U.S. State Department charged that Iran is violating U.N. restrictions by supplying the drones to Russia.

Meanwhile, a Russian bomber crashed today in the city of Yeysk in Southern Russia. At least four people were killed and 21 hurt. The plane hit a nine-story apartment building and left several floors in flames. Russian defense officials blamed the crash on a fire in one of the engines.

In Iran, authorities now say that the death toll has reached eight in a weekend fire at a Tehran prison. It erupted Saturday at Evin prison, where political prisoners are kept. Iranian officials blamed prisoners for the fire, which came amid ongoing anti-government protests. We will return to this later in the program.

Britain's new government has reversed nearly all of an economic package announced just weeks ago. Today's decision scraps planned tax cuts and it scales back a cap on energy prices. Those measures were not paid for and that had spooked financial markets.

Newly named Treasury Chief formally announced the change.

Jeremy Hunt, British Treasury Chief:

It is a deeply held conservative value, a value that I share, that people should keep more of the money they earn. But at a time when markets are rightly demanding commitment to sustainable public finances, it is not right to borrow to fund this tax cut.

Judy Woodruff:

Prime Minister Liz Truss issued the economic plan after taking office last month. This evening, she said she's sorry for the mistakes, but she said she means to continue as leader of the ruling Conservative Party.

Officials in Pakistan report more than half of those who fled during recent floods in Sindh Province have now returned home. The region was inundated over the summer, when unprecedented monsoon rains sent rivers overflowing. Some 12 million people in Sindh were affected. Roughly 200,000 remain in aid camps.

Back in this country, documents show that former President Trump's hotels charged the Secret Service up to $1,200 a night during his time in office. A congressional committee obtained the records as it investigates claims that the Trump Organization profited from presidential security. The company denies the allegation.

The nation's first trial over a state ban on gender-confirming care for children has started in Arkansas. The law bars such care for those under 18. Doctors who violate the ban could lose their licenses. Transgender activists say that it discriminates against them and violates free speech rights.

And on Wall Street, stocks stormed back from Friday's losses, leading major indexes to rise from 2 to nearly 3.5 percent. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 551 points to close near 30186. The Nasdaq added 354 points. The S&P 500 jumped almost 95.

Still to come on the "NewsHour": we speak to the sister of an American held at the notorious Iranian prison that caught fire this weekend; Tamara Keith and Amy Walter break down the latest political headlines; playwright Tom Stoppard discusses his latest work chronicling a Jewish family's history; plus much more.