Recent missile and drone attacks by Russian forces have resulted in a tragic loss of life in Ukraine, with at least 14 individuals reported dead and 37 others injured, according to Ukrainian officials on Saturday.
Details of the attacks
The attacks primarily targeted the eastern Donetsk region, where Russian military advancements have been noted. In a devastating strike on the town of Dobropillya, 11 fatalities were reported, including five children, and at least 30 additional individuals sustained injuries. This assault underscores the ongoing peril faced by civilians in conflict-affected areas.
In a separate incident in the Kharkiv region to the northeast, three more people lost their lives, and seven were injured due to a drone strike. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks, sharing his observations on social media platform X. He noted,
“After emergency services arrived at the scene, they launched another strike, deliberately targeting rescuers. It is a vile and inhumane intimidation tactic to which the Russians often resort.”
Impact on infrastructure and military aid
The missile strike inflicted significant damage, affecting eight apartment buildings, an administrative facility, and a fire truck, as reported by Zelenskyy. This latest wave of airstrikes follows a substantial bombardment on Friday, during which Russian forces unleashed 67 missiles and 194 drones, primarily targeting energy and civilian infrastructure.
This escalation in military action comes in the wake of the United States halting its military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, following a notable clash between President Donald Trump and Zelenskyy earlier in February. The U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency confirmed that it has suspended the sharing of satellite imagery, which has been critical for the Ukrainian military in monitoring Russian troop movements and assessing damage to infrastructure, according to reports from Ukrainian defense publication Militarnyi.