Kyiv (STARTUPNEXT) – Russia escalated its attacks on Ukraine over the weekend, launching nearly 150 drones in a series of devastating airstrikes across the country. The strikes resulted in at least four deaths, with the hardest-hit areas being the eastern Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
In the city of Kostyantynivka, Donetsk, airstrikes killed three people and injured four others, according to regional officials. The city of Pavlohrad in the Dnipropetrovsk region was hit by a drone attack for the third consecutive night, claiming one life and injuring a 14-year-old girl. The new wave of violence follows Russia’s claim that it had regained full control over parts of the Kursk region, which Ukrainian forces had captured during a surprise offensive in August 2024. Despite these claims, Ukrainian officials reported that fierce fighting continues in the region, indicating that the situation remains volatile.
This escalation comes on the heels of a public statement from former US President Donald Trump, who voiced fresh doubts about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s commitment to ending the ongoing war. Trump expressed skepticism about a peace deal, questioning Putin’s intentions after Russia’s recent missile and drone strikes targeted civilian areas in Ukraine. “There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns,” Trump remarked in a social media post while traveling back to the US after attending the funeral of Pope Francis.
Trump, who met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Vatican, expressed disappointment over Russia’s continued attacks. He called for Putin to “sit down and make a deal,” emphasizing that he had various options should Russia refuse to cease hostilities.
In the face of this ongoing conflict, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that the upcoming week would be “very critical,” as the US needs to determine its continued involvement in the war.