Russian drone strikes claim multiple lives in Ukraine’s Kharkiv while the European Union prepares its 18th sanctions package against Moscow.
At a Glance
- Russian drone strikes killed at least two people and injured 28 in Kharkiv, causing significant damage to residential areas
- Kyiv and Odesa also suffered attacks, with civilian targets including a maternity ward and cathedral
- A recent prisoner exchange freed severely injured Mariupol defenders captured by Russian forces
- The European Commission has proposed an 18th sanctions package targeting Russian oil revenues, banks, and military industry
- Ukraine’s President Zelensky condemned the attacks as “pure terrorism” with “no military sense”
Devastating Drone Strikes on Kharkiv
Russia has launched a massive drone and bomber attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, resulting in at least four deaths and injuring nearly 60 people. Local officials reported seventeen strikes by enemy UAVs carried out in two districts of the city, with more than 15 apartments set ablaze and several houses directly hit. The assault on Kharkiv included 48 drones, two missiles, and four glide bombs on Friday night, with additional glide bombs dropped on Saturday, continuing Russia’s pattern of targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine’s urban centers.
Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov warned that “there may be people trapped under the rubble” as rescue workers sifted through destroyed residential buildings. The strikes represent part of a broader assault across Ukraine, with additional fatalities reported in Kherson. Moscow has claimed these attacks were in response to what it characterized as “terrorist attacks by the Kyiv regime” on Russian infrastructure, a justification widely dismissed by international observers as a pretext for targeting civilians.
Widespread Attacks on Ukrainian Cities
The attacks on Kharkiv were not isolated incidents. Kyiv and Odesa also suffered deadly Russian drone strikes, with the death toll rising to at least three with 13 wounded. Particularly concerning was the targeting of civilian infrastructure in Kyiv, including a maternity ward and a cathedral. In a separate assault, six people were killed and 80 injured across Ukraine in what officials described as one of the largest attacks involving over 400 drones and nearly 40 missiles since the conflict began in February 2022.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has entered the diplomatic fray with controversial comments suggesting Ukrainian actions had provoked the Russian response. “US President Donald Trump said on Friday that the Ukrainians had given Putin ‘a reason to go in and bomb the hell out of them last night,'” a statement that has drawn criticism from those supporting Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion, which now controls approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.
Prisoner Exchange and Humanitarian Relief
Amid the ongoing violence, a prisoner of war exchange provided a rare moment of relief, particularly for defenders of Mariupol who had been held captive. The exchange involved soldiers with severe injuries and illnesses who had been captured during the siege of Mariupol, a city that became symbolic of Ukrainian resistance early in the conflict. One poignant reunion saw Amina Ivanchenko reunited with her husband, who had been a prisoner of war for 18 months under Russian captivity.
Earlier peace talks in Istanbul had resulted in an agreement to exchange sick and heavily wounded prisoners of war and the bodies of 12,000 soldiers, but implementation proved challenging. Russia accused Ukraine of not adhering to the agreed parameters for the exchange, while Ukraine countered that Russia had submitted alternative lists, highlighting the distrust that continues to characterize negotiations between the warring parties.
European Sanctions Response
The European Commission has responded to the escalating attacks by proposing its 18th package of sanctions against Russia. The measures specifically target Moscow’s energy revenues, banking system, and military industry in an effort to limit Russia’s ability to finance its war machine. A key component of the sanctions package includes a proposal to reduce the price cap on Russian oil to $45 a barrel, significantly impacting the Kremlin’s primary source of foreign currency.
The sanctions would also target 22 Russian banks, cutting them off from the Swift international payment system, further isolating Russia’s financial sector from global markets. These measures represent the European Union’s continued determination to apply economic pressure on Moscow as conventional diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have stalled. Peace talks have not resulted in a ceasefire, with Ukraine seeking an “unconditional ceasefire” that Russia has thus far rejected as hostilities continue.
