Russia defied calls by US President Donald Trump to reach a peace deal by firing hundreds of drones, artillery and a ballistic missile at Ukraine between late Tuesday and early Wednesday, Ukraine said.
According to police, the assaults killed one woman and injured more than two dozen others across different districts, while a missile attack disrupted electricity and water to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rig.
The bombardment occurred two days after US President Donald Trump vowed to impose severe penalties on the country unless it negotiated a peace agreement within 50 days to end its three-year war with Ukraine.
Ukraine and Russia have not held direct peace talks in over a month, despite the Kremlin’s stated willingness to do so.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Russia launched at least 400 drones and an Iskander ballistic missile from the annexed Crimean peninsula, according to the Ukrainian air force.
Overnight drone attacks on the central Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia resulted in eight deaths.
A 17-year-old teenage boy was among those injured, the city’s mayor Oleksandr Vilkul said on Telegram.
“He was wounded in the abdominal cavity. He was immediately taken to the hospital in serious condition. Now doctors are fighting for his life,” he wrote.
“This has never happened before. A ballistic missile and 28 Shaheds simultaneously,” he added, referring to Iranian-designed drones.
Russia has intensified its summer assault against Ukraine in recent weeks, as Washington-mediated ceasefire talks languish.
Its army has advanced on the battlefield, hammering Ukraine with drone, artillery, and missile strikes.
Trump announced Monday that he had reached an agreement with NATO’s head to deliver more American air defence systems and weaponry to Ukraine, citing his anger with Russia’s failure to accept a ceasefire.
