Russia Emboldened, Ukraine Pounded, After US Cuts

At least 25 people were killed in Ukraine following two nights of heavy Russian strikes over the weekend, days after the US suspended military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv, the BBC reported.

The escalation comes amid growing international concerns over Washington’s shifting stance on the war, with President Donald Trump signaling he is pressuring Ukraine into a peace deal even as he threatened new sanctions on Russia.

The deadliest attack occurred in Dobropillya, in the eastern Donetsk region, where Russian ballistic missiles struck eight residential buildings and a shopping center late Friday, killing at least 11 people and injuring more than 50, including seven children.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of intentionally targeting rescue workers responding to the initial strike, calling it a “deliberate act of terror.”

Russian drones and missiles also struck other regions, with three people were killed in Bohodukhiv, Kharkiv Region, while five were injured in Kherson.

Ukrainian officials warned that the death toll could rise as emergency workers search for people in the rubble.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk blamed the strikes on international inaction, saying, “This is what happens when someone appeases barbarians. More bombs, more aggression, more victims,” the Associated Press noted.

The attacks follow a halt by the US of military aid and intelligence assistance to Ukraine, limiting Kyiv’s ability to strike Russian targets and defend itself against incoming attacks. The White House also cut Ukraine’s access to satellite imagery, according to US space technology company Maxar, CNN wrote.

Trump, who held a tense meeting with Zelenskyy late last month, has justified the pause by saying Ukraine needed to show a willingness to negotiate.

On Friday, Trump suggested he was considering large-scale economic sanctions on Russia to force a peace agreement, stating that he wanted both sides to “get to the table right now,” added NBC News.

However, he also said he found it “more difficult to deal with Ukraine” than with Russia, adding, “Putin is doing what anybody else would do.”

Zelenskyy responded by calling for tougher measures against Russia and continued Western support, emphasizing that Ukraine has been working toward peace since the beginning of the war.

On Monday, he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia ahead of peace negotiations with Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff.

Meanwhile, Russian forces continue their advance in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops have been fighting inside Russian territory since they advanced into the region in August.

Military analysts warn that Kyiv’s hold on the area is weakening, with Moscow deploying 12,000 North Korean troops to bolster its positions.