President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia is mocking efforts toward peace following a deadly overnight drone barrage across several Ukrainian regions.
Four people were killed and at least 21 injured in Dnipro in central Ukraine after residential buildings, a hotel-restaurant complex and other civilian infrastructure were hit, Zelenskiy said in a post on X.
A swarm of more than 170 UAVs, including more than 100 Shahed-style drones, targeted the Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Khmelnytskyi regions as well as Dnipro, he said.
“Russia mocks the world’s peace efforts – dragging out the war and committing these acts of terror because it still doesn’t feel real pressure,” Zelenskiy added. “Diplomacy can work, but only when backed by actions that strengthen our warriors and deprive the occupiers of the resources to wage war.”
The US this month brokered a partial ceasefire in the three-year-old conflict, covering strikes against energy facilities. Ukraine has accused Russia of violating that truce, including during a strike on the city of Kherson this week, and Kremlin attacks on civilian targets continue.
On Friday, US Vice President JD Vance said agreements to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea are “almost done” and that “once we get there, we’ll work on the next stage of the ceasefire.” Russia has set a series of preconditions for the ceasefire to take effect, including lifting sanctions on banks involved in agricultural exports.
Source: Bloomberg