Key facts
- Russian strikes killed at least 15 people in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on Saturday.
- Three children were among the fatalities in Zaporizhzhia.
- At least 16 people were wounded in the Zaporizhzhia attack.
- Missiles also struck Kyiv, wounding four people.
- U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal to buy Russian diesel from Russia.
- Kyiv warned that the diesel deal would help bankroll Moscow's war in Ukraine.
Russian forces killed at least 15 people, including three children, in strikes on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region on Saturday, Ukrainian officials reported. The attacks occurred a day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal to purchase Russian diesel, a move that Kyiv warned would help finance Moscow's ongoing war.
At least 16 people were wounded in the Zaporizhzhia attack, according to Ukraine's State Emergency Service. Missiles also hit Kyiv in a daytime assault, wounding four civilians, Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the attacks demonstrated Russia's understanding that any easing of pressure signals an opportunity to continue its military operations. He emphasized the need for different signals to be sent to Moscow.
Separately, Leonid Pasechnik, the Russian-installed governor of the Luhansk region, reported that four civilians were killed and five others wounded in Ukrainian attacks over the preceding 24 hours. Kyiv has not commented on these specific attacks.
The diesel deal announced by President Trump involves Russia supplying over 300,000 tons of diesel immediately, followed by additional quantities in November and a further 3 million tons within a short period. This agreement marks a significant shift from previous U.S. pressure on Moscow regarding its war in Ukraine and aims to address high fuel prices ahead of U.S. midterm elections. Germany, however, stated it would maintain sanctions against Russia.
The Kremlin indicated that President Putin received Trump's proposals for de-escalating the conflict with understanding, according to spokesman Dmitry Peskov.