Russian attacks across Ukraine killed 14 people and left dozens wounded just hours before President Volodymyr Zelensky landed in Washington for high-stakes talks at the White House.
The deadliest strike hit Kharkiv, where a drone attack tore into a five-story apartment building, collapsing part of the structure and setting multiple floors ablaze. Seven civilians, including two children, were killed there, while at least 23 others were injured. Earlier in the night, a ballistic missile also struck the city, wounding around 11 people. In Zaporizhzhia, three people were killed and 23 injured in a separate strike, according to Ukrainian officials.
Authorities said the timing of the attacks was no coincidence, describing them as a calculated message from Moscow. Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of “enjoying the shelling of peaceful cities while speaking of his desire to end the war,” underscoring Kyiv’s doubts about Russia’s willingness to negotiate in good faith.
Zelensky’s visit to Washington, joined by several European leaders, is centered on discussions about a potential path to peace with Moscow and the need to secure continued U.S. support. But the latest bloodshed has reinforced the war’s devastating toll on civilians and cast a grim shadow over the diplomatic efforts unfolding in the U.S. capital.
