Deadly Russian attacks continued in Ukraine on Tuesday, with strikes hitting Kyiv and Odesa on the first day of the new school year and killing at least 12 people, according to Ukrainian authorities.

The attacks came as European Union defense ministers gathered in Ireland to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, with air defense and continued military support for Kyiv high on the agenda.

EU ministers are also focusing on what they describe as a growing “hybrid” threat from Moscow, including actions aimed at destabilizing European countries beyond the battlefield in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, tensions also rose along NATO’s eastern flank after drones triggered a brief NATO response near Estonia’s border with Russia. The incident added to concerns among European governments over potential spillover from the war and Moscow’s broader activities in the region.

The developments come as European countries continue to strengthen their defenses and debate further military assistance to Ukraine, while Kyiv presses its allies for additional air-defense systems to protect civilians and critical infrastructure from Russian missile and drone attacks.