Russian Missile Strike on Ukraine Leaves 14 Dead, 37 Injured
At least 14 people, including five children, were killed and 37 others wounded in a devastating Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s eastern city of Dobropillia and a settlement in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine’s Interior Ministry confirmed on Saturday.
Wave of Destruction in Dobropillia
The attack on Dobropillia involved ballistic missiles, multiple rockets, and drones, striking eight multi-storey buildings and 30 vehicles. The brutal assault claimed 11 lives, among them five children, and left 30 people injured.
In a separate incident, a drone attack on the Kharkiv region killed three civilians and wounded seven others.
“Such strikes show that Russia’s objectives have not changed. Therefore, it is crucial to continue doing our best to protect lives, strengthen our air defenses, and increase sanctions against Russia. Everything that helps Putin finance the war must collapse,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Facebook.
Energy and Gas Infrastructure Targeted
On Friday, Russian forces also struck Ukrainian energy and gas infrastructure in their first major missile attack since the U.S. temporarily halted intelligence sharing with Ukraine. The pause in U.S. military support has raised concerns that Ukraine’s air defenses are becoming increasingly vulnerable due to dwindling supplies of advanced missiles.
Dobropillia, a pre-war home to around 28,000 people, is situated in the Donetsk region, just 22 kilometers from the frontline city of Pokrovsk, which Russian forces have been targeting for weeks.
Ongoing Battles and Retaliatory Strikes
While the United States seeks to bring Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiating table, fierce fighting persists as both sides push for strategic gains.
Meanwhile, in Russia, Ukraine launched a major overnight drone attack, damaging a storage tank at the Kirishi oil refinery, one of Russia’s largest facilities.
In retaliation, Russian forces have intensified efforts to remove Ukrainian troops from Kursk. The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Saturday that its troops had recaptured three villages in the region. However, Reuters has been unable to independently verify these battlefield claims.
As the war grinds on, the humanitarian toll continues to mount, with no clear end in sight. International pressure is growing for both sides to seek a diplomatic resolution, but with ongoing assaults and counterattacks, peace remains elusive.
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Russian Missile Strike on Ukraine Leaves 14 Dead, 37 Injured