Zelensky: Russia's goals remain unchanged - 11 dead in eastern Ukraine

Zelensky: Russia's goals remain unchanged - 11 dead in eastern Ukraine

overnight in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dobropillia, 11 people were killed in Russian air strikes, as the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj announced on Saturday. He explained that these attacks "prove that the goals of Russia are unchanged". The attacks occur at a critical time in the Ukraine conflict, since the United States have set military help and the exchange of secret service information with Kiev to put pressure on Ukraine and urge them to make a peace agreement. This decision has made Ukraine even more vulnerable for Russian attacks.

US president and threats to Russia

On Friday, after threatening with sanctions to enforce a ceasefire, US President Donald Trump, his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin, said "what everyone would do" by exploiting the current conditions on the battlefield. In addition to the dead in the Dobropillia, more than 30 more people were injured, including five children. The authorities reported that even more people are locked under the ruins, since at least eight residential buildings in the area were damaged in the attack.

inhumane tactics of the Russian attacks

The Ukrainian President described the attacks as "a ramble and inhumane tactic of intimidation that the Russians often apply". Selenskyj emphasized the need to do everything to protect life, strengthen air defense and increase sanctions against Russia. He added: "Everything that helps Putin to finance the war has to be interrupted."

planned conversations with Saudi Arabia

Selenskyj has announced that they are talking to Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in Saudi Arabia next week, before negotiations between Kiev and Washington. His team will then remain in Saudi Arabia "to work with our American partners," he added.

Overview of the attacks in the region

Local officials reported on Saturday that in the last 24 hours Russian attacks in Eastern and South Ukraine cost at least 23 people and injured over 50 more. In addition to the deaths in Dobropillia, other nine people were killed in other parts of Donetsk and 13 injured, according to the local authorities. The Ukrainian civil protection reported that a drone attack in the Eastern Ukrainian region of Charkiw also called for three lives and resulted in seven injuries, while five people were injured in the South Ukrainian region.

Air defense performance of Ukraine

The Ukrainian Air Force indicated that they shot 79 out of 145 at night from Russia, while 54 drones did not reach their destination. Russia also used at least three rockets in his attack; The Air Force reported that at least one of the rockets was shot down. The attacks took place just a few days after a deadly Russian air raid on Krywyj Rih, the hometown of Selenskyj.