At least 15 people, including three children, were killed and 16 others injured in Russian aerial bombings targeting residential buildings in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, Ukrainian authorities reported Saturday. The attacks come amid ongoing hostilities in eastern Ukraine, more than four and a half years after Russia launched a full-scale invasion.
The strikes occurred a day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an agreement to purchase Russian diesel fuel, a move that has drawn criticism from Ukrainian officials. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service confirmed the casualties resulting from the bombardment and highlighted the growing intensity of Russian missile attacks, which have resulted in over 60 deaths in the past four days alone.
Ukraine and Russia continue to engage in a protracted conflict characterized by a stalemate along the front lines and frequent long-range aerial assaults. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the recent strikes, linking them directly to the U.S. decision to ease restrictions on Russian diesel exports. In a post on the social media platform X, Zelenskyy accused Moscow of interpreting any reduction in sanctions as a green light to intensify attacks on Ukrainian cities.
"Today, Russia expressed its thanks for the lifting of sanctions on diesel exports by dropping five glide bombs on residential buildings in Zaporizhzhia," Zelenskyy wrote. He emphasized the need for stronger international signals against Moscow’s aggression.
Trump’s announcement marked a significant policy shift, diverging from sanctions legislation he signed just the previous month aimed at curbing Russia’s oil and gas revenue streams that finance its military operations in Ukraine. The move to secure Russian diesel was presented by Trump as a strategy to mitigate rising fuel prices in the United States ahead of the midterm elections.
Zelenskyy strongly criticized the agreement, describing it as an assistance to Russia’s war efforts that could extend the conflict and lead to greater casualties and destruction. According to a statement from the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, he characterized the decision as "a weak decision by strong partners," stressing the negative ramifications of providing Moscow with additional financial resources.
As hostilities persist, the recent escalations underscore the complex international dimensions of the war and the continuing challenges faced by Ukraine amid ongoing Russian military pressure.