Over the weekend, Russia attacked the city of Kharkiv, prompting Ukraine to accuse Russia of a “war crime” while the ceasefire attempts supported by the United States continue to elude them.
Ukrainian officials said that at least two people were killed in a residential building and that six attacks struck the northeastern border city overnight Saturday into Sunday, injuring personnel receiving treatment at a military hospital.
Two fatalities were verified, and 30 others, including children, were injured, according to Dmytro Chubenko, a spokesman for the Kharkiv regional prosecutor’s office.
The “massive attack” destroyed one house to a charred ruin and caused damage to other homes, offices, vehicles, and garages, according to emergency medical services.
A military hospital and adjacent residential buildings “were damaged by a Shahed drone,” the Ukrainian army said.
According to preliminary reports, there were casualties among the military personnel who were undergoing treatment at the medical centre.
The number of soldiers injured was not disclosed by Kyiv, which normally does not provide military casualty data.
Russia was charged with committing a “war crime” and “violating the norms of international humanitarian law.”
– ‘Real pressure’ –
The most recent killings occurred as the administration of US President Donald Trump held discussions with both Russia and Ukraine to halt the conflict, which has lasted more than three years.
While Ukraine has accused Russia of prolonging negotiations with no intention of stopping its offensive, Moscow has rejected a combined US-Ukrainian proposal for an unconditional and complete ceasefire.
“America has been proposing an unconditional ceasefire without a sufficient response from Russia for far too long,” Zelensky stated in his Saturday evening speech.
He thanked the nations “who understand this” and have increased sanctions pressure on the Kremlin, adding, “If there was real pressure on Russia, there could already be a ceasefire.”
The idea of a Black Sea truce was accepted by both Moscow and Kyiv during discussions with US officials earlier this week, but Russia stated the agreement would not take effect until the West removed some sanctions.
Trump’s pledges to cease aiding Kyiv and the rapprochement between Washington and Moscow since his return to office have increased Russian President Vladimir Putin’s trust.
His military ministry said Saturday that it had taken two Ukrainian villages: Panteleimonivka in the eastern Donetsk area and Shchebraki in the southern Zaporizhzhia district.
Meanwhile, Putin has reiterated his long-standing goal of overthrowing Zelensky and installing a more Moscow-friendly government in Kyiv by calling for a “transitional administration” as part of the peace process.
Zelensky’s “legitimacy” as Ukrainian president has been questioned by Putin, who has been in power for 25 years and has been elected in a series of uncontested elections. Zelensky’s first five-year term expired in May 2024.
During periods of significant armed combat, elections are halted under Ukrainian law, and Zelensky’s internal rivals have all stated that no voting should take place until the fighting is over.
