Only a day after US President Donald Trump rebuked Vladimir Putin for lethal missile and drone assaults on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, at the very least three civilians had been killed and ten others injured when a Russian drone struck an house constructing in Pavlohrad, a metropolis in Ukraine’s southeastern Dnipropetrovsk area, in a late-night assault, officers stated on Friday. Among the many victims had been a toddler and a 76-year-old girl, in response to regional governor Serhii Lysak.
The strike got here only a day after one of many deadliest assaults on Kyiv in current months, the place a barrage of missiles and drones killed at the very least 12 individuals and injured practically 90 others. Ukraine’s air drive reported that Russia launched a complete of 103 Shahed and decoy drones concentrating on 5 areas in a single day. Whereas infrastructure was broken within the Sumy and Kharkiv areas, no further casualties had been reported there.
Trump calls out Putin over Kyiv assault
On Thursday, Trump slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin following Thursday’s devastating assault on Kyiv. Posting on his Reality Social platform, Trump wrote, “I’m not pleased with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not vital, and really unhealthy timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 troopers per week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!”
Trump’s remarks come amid rising frustration over stalled peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, was scheduled to satisfy Putin in Moscow on Friday — their second assembly this month. In the meantime, Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are each anticipated to attend Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome, although it stays unclear if the 2 will meet individually.
Zelenskyy slams recent Russian floor offensive
Following the missile and drone strikes on Kyiv, President Zelenskyy stated Russian forces used the assault as cowl to accentuate their floor assault, launching practically 150 offensives throughout the 1,000-km frontline. “When the utmost of our forces was centered on defence in opposition to missiles and drones, the Russians went on to considerably intensify their floor assaults,”he wrote on Telegram.
Zelenskyy additionally revealed that Ukraine had agreed to a U.S.-proposed ceasefire 44 days in the past, however stated Russia continues to launch assaults — together with current lethal strikes in Sumy, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia. Western European leaders have accused Putin of prolonging the battle to grab extra Ukrainian territory, at the same time as peace efforts stay stalled.
In the meantime, Trump has accused Zelenskyy of refusing to compromise by not agreeing to give up Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. The Ukrainian president has firmly said that any recognition of occupied territory as Russian stays a crimson line.
(With inputs from AP)
