Zelenskyy Demands Tougher Sanctions as Russia’s Deadly Strikes Kill 14

Russia’s Relentless Strikes Kill 14 in Ukraine as Zelenskyy Seeks Stronger Sanctions

At least 14 people lost their lives in a series of overnight Russian attacks on Ukraine’s eastern region, where Moscow has ramped up its military offensive in recent days.

Ukraine’s emergency services reported on Saturday that Russian forces targeted the town of Dobropillia in the eastern Donetsk region late Friday, resulting in 11 deaths and injuring 30 others.

Rescue teams worked through the night as multiple buildings were reduced to rubble. “We understand a number of buildings were hit. And as the rescue teams were pulling people out of the rubble, searching for them, other strikes took place,” Al Jazeera’s Assed Baig reported from Kyiv.

Dobropillia lies approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the front line and is near Pokrovsk, a contested town where intense fighting has persisted for months. Reports suggest that Russian forces have advanced toward the southern outskirts.

Widespread Destruction Across Ukraine

In a separate attack in the northern Kharkiv region, a Russian drone strike on a civilian building in Bogodukhiv killed at least three people and wounded seven others, according to Kharkiv Governor Oleh Synehubov.

Meanwhile, in Odesa, drone strikes triggered several fires, damaging a hangar storing agricultural equipment, a service station, a car parts store, solar panels, and a four-story industrial building.

Russia also faced repercussions from the ongoing conflict. Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region, reported that falling debris from a downed Ukrainian drone struck a tank at the Kirishi refinery, one of Russia’s largest oil processing facilities.

International Condemnation and Calls for Action

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, swiftly condemned the attacks, stating that they prove Putin “has no interest in peace.” She urged for increased military aid to Ukraine.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk echoed these sentiments, criticizing Russia’s aggression and its consequences. “More bombs, more aggression, more victims. Another tragic night in Ukraine,” he wrote on X.

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Zelenskyy Pushes for ‘Accelerated Peace’ Amid Shifting U.S. Support

As Russian attacks escalate, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized efforts to secure stronger international support and bring an end to the war.

“We will do a lot of work here in Europe, with the US, and in Saudi Arabia – we are preparing a meeting to accelerate peace and strengthen the foundations of security,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.

His remarks come as Washington signals a shift in its approach to Kyiv under President Donald Trump’s administration. The U.S. has paused aid and intelligence sharing while increasing pressure on Ukraine to negotiate with Moscow. Critics argue that Trump has repeatedly targeted Zelenskyy while adopting a more conciliatory stance toward Russian President Vladimir Putin.