Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy yesterday called for more sanctions against Russia as overnight strikes killed at least 14 people and wounded dozens more, days ahead of talks between US and Ukrainian negotiators aimed at securing a truce.
A Russian assault hit the center of Dobropillia in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region late on Friday, killing 11 people and wounding 30, emergency services said.
Separately, three people were killed and seven were wounded in a drone attack early yesterday in Bogodukhiv, Kharkiv Governor Oleg Synegubov said.
Photo: AFP
Russia fired two missiles and 145 drones at Bogodukhiv, the Ukrainian Air Force said.
The overnight air raids came after US President Donald Trump threatened new sanctions and tariffs on Russia, but said it might be “easier” to work with Moscow than Kyiv on efforts to end the three-year-long war.
“Such strikes show that Russia’s goals are unchanged. Therefore, it is very important to continue to do everything to protect life, strengthen our air defence, and increase sanctions against Russia,” Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram.
In Dobropillia, there were charred residential buildings, flattened market stalls and evidence of cluster bomb damage.
Irina Kostenko, 59, spent the night cowering in her hallway with her husband. When she left the apartment building yesterday, she saw a neighbor “lying dead on the ground, covered with a blanket.”
“It was shocking, I don’t have the words to describe it,” Kostenko said.
Zelenskiy said that Russia had struck Dobropillia, waited until rescuers arrived and then “deliberately” targeted them as well.
“This is a despicable and inhumane tactic of intimidation that the Russians often use,” he said.
US and Ukrainian negotiators are due to meet in Saudi Arabia next week with bilateral relations frayed.
Trump publicly berated Zelenskiy during a White House meeting and suspended US aid to Kyiv in a stated bid to encourage diplomacy.
“I’m finding it more difficult frankly to deal with Ukraine and they don’t have the cards,” Trump said on Friday. “It may be easier dealing with Russia.”
The remarks followed Trump on Friday threatening new sanctions and tariffs on Russia over its bombardments of Ukraine.
“To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late,” he added.
Zelenskiy is due to land in Saudi Arabia tomorrow for talks with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.
The meeting is a day before Ukrainian officials are expected to hold fresh talks with their US counterparts there.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said its air defense systems destroyed 31 Ukrainian drones over the past night.
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