KYIV, Ukraine — Russian strikes on Ukraine have killed at least 20 people, officials said Saturday, as heavy aerial attacks continued into the second night following a U.S. decision to stop sharing satellite images with Ukraine.
The decision to withhold intelligence came after a tense White House visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week. Without U.S. satellite imagery, Ukraine’s ability to strike inside Russia and defend itself from bombardment is significantly diminished.
At least 11 people were killed in multiple strikes on a town in Ukraine’s embattled Donetsk region late Friday, regional Gov. Vadym Filashkin said. The attack damaged eight apartment blocks in Dobropillya, which is close to the front where Russian troops have been advancing steadily. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported that a Russian drone damaged a Ukrainian fire truck while crews were trying to put out the fires.
Another six people were killed in front-line towns, while three others died when a Russian drone hit a civilian workshop in Kharkiv. Filashkin declared Saturday a day of mourning in the region and warned more victims could still be found in the rubble.
The attacks came just a day after Russia hit Ukrainian energy facilities with dozens of missiles and drones, disrupting the country’s ability to deliver essential services to its citizens and power its defenses.
The wave of attacks followed the U.S. suspension of military aid and intelligence to Ukraine, which aimed to pressure Ukraine into accepting a peace deal supported by the Trump administration.
When questioned if Russian President Vladimir Putin was taking advantage of the U.S. pause on intelligence-sharing, President Donald Trump said, “I think he’s doing what anybody else would.”
Zelensky welcomed additional sanctions on Russia and called for disruption of Moscow’s funding for war efforts.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russian troops launched three Iskander missiles and 145 drones overnight, while Russian troops shot down 31 Ukrainian drones overnight. A drone strike sparked a blaze at an oil refinery in Leningrad, but no casualties were reported.
Source: https://time.com/7266080/russian-strikes-on-ukraine-fatalities-us-cuts-intelligence-sharing-kyiv/
