At least 14 people were killed, including five children, and 37 wounded in Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s eastern city of Dobropillia overnight and on a settlement in the Kharkiv region, the Ukrainian interior ministry said on Saturday.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said later that Ukraine is “fully committed” to having a constructive dialogue with US representatives in Saudi Arabia next week over ways to end the war with Russia
Russian forces attacked Dobropillia overnight with ballistic missiles, multiple rockets and drones, causing damage to eight multistorey buildings and 30 vehicles, the ministry said. The assault resulted in the deaths of 11 people, including five children, and left 30 others wounded.
The ministry also reported that three civilians were killed and seven wounded in a separate drone attack on the Kharkiv region in the northeast.
“While extinguishing the fire, the occupiers struck again, damaging the fire truck,” the ministry said on the Telegram messenger app.
Photographs of partially destroyed buildings engulfed in flames and rescue workers clearing debris were also published by the ministry.
“Such strikes show that Russia’s objectives have not changed. Therefore, it is crucial to continue to do our best to protect lives, strengthen our air defences, and increase sanctions against Russia. Everything that helps Putin finance the war must collapse,” said on Facebook.
Since taking office in January, US president Donald Trump has paused American military aid to Ukraine as well as intelligence-sharing with Kyiv. He has accused Zelenskiy of not being serious about reaching a peace agreement with Russia.
“Ukraine has been seeking peace from the very first second of this war. Realistic proposals are on the table. The key is to move quickly and effectively,” Zelenskiy said on social media network X.
Zelenskiy said he would visit Saudi Arabia next week and that after meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman on Monday, Ukrainian diplomatic and military representatives would stay for a meeting on Tuesday with the US team.
“On our side, we are fully committed to constructive dialogue, and we hope to discuss and agree on the necessary decisions and steps,” he said.
On Friday, Russian forces damaged Ukrainian energy and gas infrastructure in their first major missile attack since the US paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine, piling pressure on Kyiv as President Donald Trump seeks a swift end to the war.
The pause in US military aid and intelligence may undermine Ukraine’s air defences as it runs low on advanced missiles and struggles to track attacks as effectively, military analysts say.
Dobropillia, home to about 28,000 people before the war, is in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, 22km from the front line north of the key hub of Pokrovsk, which the Russian troops have been attacking for weeks. - Reuters
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