At least 25 people have been killed in Ukraine following the latest round of Russian missile and drone strikes, as the ongoing conflict shows no sign of abating. Ukrainian officials reported widespread destruction across multiple regions, including Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Odesa, with civilians bearing the brunt of the assault.
The deadliest attack took place on Friday in the Donetsk Region, specifically in the town of Dobropillya, where two ballistic missiles struck residential buildings and a shopping center, killing at least 11 people and injuring 40, including six children. Emergency responders who arrived at the scene were targeted in a subsequent strike, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who condemned the attack as evidence of Russia’s unchanged objectives.
“Such strikes show that Russia’s goals are unchanged,” Zelensky said in a Telegram post. Other attacks in the Donetsk region on Friday and Saturday left at least nine people dead and 13 wounded.
Meanwhile, in Kharkiv, three people were killed and seven others injured in a drone strike that targeted a local company early on Saturday. Another drone attack hit civilian and energy infrastructure in Odesa, marking the seventh assault on the region’s energy system in the past three weeks.
The intensifying Russian attacks come amid growing concerns about Western support for Ukraine. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk slammed those who have “appeased barbarians,” referring to the continued aggression. He added, “More bombs, more aggression, more victims.”
On the diplomatic front, the United States has paused military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv, a decision that followed a tense exchange between U.S. President Donald Trump and President Zelensky during a recent meeting in the Oval Office. Trump has increasingly expressed frustration with Ukraine, stating that it has become “more difficult” to deal with than Russia in attempts to broker peace. He also indicated that he was considering imposing large-scale sanctions on Russia to force a ceasefire.
Further complicating the situation, the U.S. has suspended Ukraine’s access to certain satellite imagery, according to space technology company Maxar. This move, along with the halt in military and intelligence assistance, has raised concerns across Europe about the reliability of U.S. support for Ukraine and its broader security interests.
In response to the escalating violence, European Union leaders met in Brussels on Thursday to approve increased defense spending and reaffirm their support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabia next week to explore the possibility of a ceasefire.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian forces have gained control of roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory, with no end to the conflict in sight.
