Deadly Russian Strikes Hit Ukraine’s Heartland
At least seven people, including two children, were killed and dozens injured as Russia launched a new wave of drone and missile attacks across Ukraine early Wednesday.
Officials confirmed that Kharkiv and Kyiv suffered significant damage, with a kindergarten in Kharkiv struck by a drone and residential areas around the capital set ablaze.
Ukrainian authorities said 27 people were wounded, among them several children, as explosions shook major cities overnight. The strikes came just hours after US President Donald Trump postponed a planned summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, deepening diplomatic tensions over the ongoing war.
Trump-Putin Talks Suspended Amid Rising Tensions
Speaking in Washington, President Trump said he had shelved plans for an imminent summit in Budapest, explaining he did not want to have a “wasted meeting.”
The announcement followed mounting international calls for a ceasefire — proposals that Moscow has flatly rejected.
Despite Trump’s statement, the Kremlin insisted that preparations for a future summit were still underway. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that a date had not yet been finalised but maintained that talks were “the mutual desire of both presidents.”
He dismissed media reports about the meeting’s cancellation as “gossip and rumours,” adding that both sides required careful preparation before any direct engagement could take place.
Zelensky: “Russia Feels No Pressure to Stop Its War”
Responding to the deadly attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Moscow’s renewed bombardment proved that Russia had not faced enough international pressure for its ongoing invasion.
He linked the escalation directly to the postponement of Trump’s meeting with Putin, suggesting that Russia was emboldened by diplomatic uncertainty.
Zelensky, speaking during a visit to Norway, said Trump’s proposed frontline freeze plan was a “good compromise,” but doubted Russian cooperation.
“I told the president I’m not sure Putin will support it,” Zelensky said, adding that Moscow’s aggression intensified after the US delayed providing long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
Sweden to Supply Gripen Jets to Bolster Ukraine’s Defence
In Oslo, Zelensky and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson signed a letter of intent for the delivery of 100 to 150 Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine.
The aircraft, produced domestically in Sweden, are expected to be supplied over the next 10–15 years, with the first deliveries within three years.
Kristersson described the agreement as a major step toward strengthening Ukraine’s air defence capabilities amid relentless Russian attacks.
The partnership underscores Europe’s continued military support for Kyiv, even as diplomatic talks with Moscow falter.
Ukraine Strikes Back: Russian Chemical Plant Targeted
Just hours before the Russian assault, Ukraine’s military confirmed it had hit a chemical facility in Russia’s Bryansk border region using UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles.
Officials described the operation as “a successful hit” that penetrated Russian air defences. The targeted plant reportedly produced gunpowder and rocket fuel components used in munitions fired at Ukrainian territory.
The retaliatory strike appeared to provoke Moscow’s massive overnight bombardment, which included 405 drones and 28 missiles, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.
Fifteen ballistic missiles were intercepted, but several others hit energy infrastructure, causing blackouts across multiple regions.
Children and Families Among Victims
In one of the deadliest incidents, a woman and her two children — a six-month-old baby and a 12-year-old girl — were killed when their house in Pohreby, near Kyiv, caught fire after a drone strike.
Local resident Mykola Laroshynskyi described hearing the drone moments before the explosion. “It came like a bird, and a split second later, there was an explosion,” he said. “The flames rose instantly — no one had time to escape.”
Another neighbour said the blast was so powerful that his wife needed psychological support.
Elsewhere, a couple in their 60s died when a drone slammed into their apartment block in central Kyiv, while a 40-year-old man was killed and seven others injured in Kharkiv after a drone struck a kindergarten.
Power Outages and Renewed Fear in Ukrainian Cities
The overnight strikes once again targeted Ukraine’s energy grid, prompting emergency power cuts in several regions.
Residents reported widespread outages, loss of heating, and water shortages. “For most of us, it means no electricity and no water,” said Kyiv MP Inna Sovsun, speaking to the BBC. “It was clearly an attack on our power supply.”
The latest assault marks the first major attack on Kyiv in nearly two weeks, highlighting the volatility of Russia’s ongoing campaign.
Despite international condemnation, Moscow continues to assert that its operations are military objectives, though civilian casualties remain high.
Global Condemnation and Ongoing Uncertainty
World leaders have condemned Russia’s renewed aggression while urging restraint and renewed diplomacy.
Yet, with the Trump-Putin summit postponed and no ceasefire in sight, analysts warn that the conflict could escalate further as winter approaches.
As Ukraine mourns its dead and rebuilds from the ruins, President Zelensky vowed that “every act of terror will be answered”, reaffirming that his country “will never bow to aggression or intimidation.”
