Donald Trump’s dramatic appeal to Vladimir Putin to halt attacks on Ukraine was swiftly ignored, as Russia launched fresh drone and missile strikes, killing civilians and injuring dozens across multiple cities.
Russia launched a fresh wave of drone and missile strikes on Ukraine early Thursday, killing at least 17 and injuring dozens, hours after Donald Trump urged Vladimir Putin to halt the violence.
“Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, following a deadly missile strike on Kyiv that killed at least 10 and wounded over 70.
Despite the plea, Russian forces deployed Shahed drones over Kharkiv, sparking explosions and fires. In Pavlohrad, a child and a 76-year-old woman were among three killed when a residential block was hit.
“Six injured people were hospitalised. One patient is in a serious condition… Among them is a 15-year-old girl,” officials said.
Four others died in shelling in Donetsk and Kherson regions.
Asked whether Putin would heed his words, Trump replied, “I’m confident.”
Ukraine condemned the strikes as a campaign of terror against civilians as fears grew over further escalation.