Five people killed as Russia continues to pummel Ukrainian cities
Ukraine's Air Forces say the Kremlin launched a ballistic missile and a barrage of more than 60 Iranian-made Shahed drones and decoy drones overnight into Sunday.
Ukrainian air defence personnel say Kyiv has successfully shot down or suppressed over 40 drones aerially, which were targeting various positions, mainly civilian, in the country's north and east.
Five people were killed in Donetsk in the eastern Donbas region as Russia intensifies it offensive in the region.
Two people were killed in Russian shelling of Raihorodok, another two were killed in Sviatohorivka and another civilian was killed in Kostiantynivka.
At least four others were injured across the region over the past day according to Governor Vadym Filashkin.
The Donbas has been the flashpoint of Russian attacks since Moscow's first invasion of 2014 and then Russia's full-out war since February 2022.
More than 30 settlements were targeted in Kherson as Russian forces carried out drone and artillery strikes. Regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin says two people were injured in the strikes. Two houses and a vehicle were also damaged in the attacks.
Five others were injured in attacks on Kharkiv, which targeted several villages with an array of missiles, drones and guided bombs. At least five people were injured in the shelling and were transferred to local hospitals to receive treatment.
Many homes sustained damage in those attacks across areas like Vilshany, Prykolotne and Nova Kozacha. Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syrniehubov says all of the targets Moscow struck were civilian in nature.
The attacks come as global pressure mounts on Russia to end its invasion, well into its fourth year, and come to the negotiating table.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to participate in a virtual meeting of the Coalition of the Willing with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The conference, taking place via video link, comes on the eve of Zelenskyy's trip to Washington. On Monday, Zelenskyy is set to meet his US counterpart Donald Trump in the White House to discuss the latest in the ongoing peace efforts.
It's the Ukrainian leader's first visit to the White House since February, a meeting in the Oval Office which ended in controversy as Trump and Vice President JD Vance proceeded to berate Zelenskyy in front of reporters.
Zelenskyy's visit, announced on Saturday, comes just days after Trump's meeting with Putin in Alaska, which produced no ceasefire agreement, but according to both leaders, brought an understanding of what Russia requires to end its assault.
Trump says he wants to arrange a trilateral summit between himself, Putin and Zelenskyy, in what would be the warring leaders' first face-to-face meeting, to 'finally end this war'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
10 minutes ago
- Euronews
German FM slams China over 'aggressive behaviour' and Russia backing
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul criticised Beijing for its "increasingly aggressive behaviour in the Taiwan Strait and the East and South China Seas" and support of Russia in its all-out war in Ukraine. Wadephul issued the statement on Sunday ahead of his official visit to Japan, adding that China was "increasingly asserting its regional supremacy and, in doing so, is also questioning principles of international law." Following talks with his Japanese counterpart, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, Wadephul added on Monday that "any escalation in this sensitive hub of international trade would have serious consequences for global security and the world economy." Wadephul also criticised China's "support for the Russian war machine" amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. "China is Russia's largest supplier of dual-use goods and Russia's best oil and gas customer," he said. "Russia's war in Ukraine is only made possible by China." His words prompted a sharp response from Beijing, accusing Germany of "inciting confrontation and hyping up tensions." "We urge the relevant parties to respect regional countries, resolve issues through dialogue and consultation, and safeguard the common interest of peace and stability, instead of inciting confrontation and hyping up tensions," China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a news conference. Tensions have recently risen between China and other powers in the Asia-Pacific region over territorial claims. Beijing has also been at odds with Western powers over its continued support for Russia amid its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. China insists it is neither aiding Russia's military nor directly involved in the war. Wadephul's words come as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to join other European leaders in Washington later on Monday for talks with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on ending Russia's war in Ukraine.
France 24
10 minutes ago
- France 24
Zelensky in Washington to discuss acceptable terms for peace deal
07:11 18/08/2025 Who will be at Zelensky's side for decisive talks with Trump on Ukraine-Russia war? Europe 18/08/2025 Bayeux tapestry British museum loan: France and Britain are making nice Europe 18/08/2025 Zelensky brings Europe's top leaders with him to meet Trump on ending Russia's war Europe 17/08/2025 European leaders to join Ukraine's Zelensky for meeting with Trump Europe 17/08/2025 Trump drops ceasefire demand, echoing Putin's position and jittering Ukraine Europe 17/08/2025 Fires keep burning in southern Europe as army is deployed in Spain Europe 17/08/2025 Tensions soar in Serbia as protesters clash with police, set fire to party offices Europe 16/08/2025 'Fear' in Ukraine following Trump-Putin talks Europe 16/08/2025 Russia-Ukraine: Is negotiating a peace treaty realistic at this stage in the war? Europe
LeMonde
38 minutes ago
- LeMonde
Ahead of Ukraine talks in Washington, Macron calls for 'new diplomatic phase'
The world's upheavals wait for no one. Emmanuel Macron has made this principle his guiding line on the international stage, now beset by "predators," and a national political scene that has been in turmoil since the dissolution of June 2024. Navigating these dual realities, the French president has tried to chart his own course, seeking to embody a "powerful Europe" – one capable of meeting the century's major challenges (economic, technological, diplomatic, environmental...) without sacrificing its values or integrity. For Macron, the war in Ukraine has become a compound of all these challenges facing Europe. "Through the Ukrainian conflict, we are in the process of redefining the rules of our collective security," the president declared Sunday, August 17, to journalists, speaking from within the walls of the Fort de Brégançon, the presidential summer residence. "If we want to be free, if we want to be independent, we must be feared; and if we want to be feared, we must be strong." But time is now playing against Macron. Three years after Russia launched its offensive against Ukraine, events are accelerating again. The summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Anchorage, Alaska, which resulted in neither a ceasefire nor an acceptable plan for resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict – while excluding Ukraine from the negotiations – was a striking example.
