Zelenskyy Condemns Russia's Ongoing Attacks as Peace Efforts Stall

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fiercely condemned Russia following a devastating night of attacks that saw Moscow launch over 450 strike drones and 30 missiles aimed at various locations in Ukraine. The barrage, which occurred overnight into Saturday, resulted in the tragic deaths of at least three individuals and left ten others injured. The hardest hit was the settlement of OleksiievoDruzhkivka in the eastern Donbas region, an area that remains a focal point of fierce combat in Russia's ongoing invasion, now entering its fourth year. Reports indicate that one person lost their life there, while two others perished in the nearby city of Kostiantynivka, amid continuous Russian strikes on various settlements within the region. Zelenskyy described the devastating scene and emphasized the implications of such attacks on civil life, stating that the ongoing military actions demonstrate the Kremlin's lack of genuine interest in pursuing peace. "It is crucial that everyone now sees what Russia is doing—every step they take in terror against our people represents a clear sign that they have no intention of ending this war," emphasized the Ukrainian leader. The southern port city of Odesa also faced significant damage, suffering strikes on civilian infrastructure and areas, with at least two civilians reported injured. In a post shared on social media, Zelenskyy noted that many residents were grappling with outages of electricity and water, although efforts were being made to restore these essential services. He revealed that over a dozen civilian facilities had been damaged due to the barrage, leaving thousands of families across various regions, including Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Chernihiv, without electricity. The Ukrainian military also reported additional strikes impacting regions such as Dnipro and Cherkasy. The attacks come in the backdrop of stalled peace talks led by U.S. President Donald Trump, with the Kremlin's expanded demands being labeled as unacceptable by Kyiv. Zelenskyy called for international allies to intensify pressure on Moscow to return to the negotiating table, emphasizing, "Their continued attacks are aimed at destroying our state and inflicting maximum agony on our people." In the midst of these developments, ongoing tensions escalated as two fatalities were reported in Russia’s southwestern Saratov region, resulting from a Ukrainian drone attack that also damaged a residential building and a kindergarten. Russia claimed to have thwarted 41 Ukrainian drones over its territory during the early hours of Sunday. As the situation remains volatile, both sides continue to exhibit resilience, yet the question of a peaceful resolution looms larger amidst the chaos of ongoing conflict. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2