Russia unleashed one of its deadliest overnight attacks on Ukraine in months early Tuesday, killing a minimum of 25 and wounding an estimated 100 more in a set of coordinated nationwide strikes. The strikes followed just one day after US President Donald Trump issued a warning that Russia had "10 or 12 days" to make progress toward a cease fire or risk additional sanctions.
A pregnant woman aged 23 years and 16 prison inmates were among the dead, according to Ukrainian officials. Missiles and drones struck several areas, including hospitals and civilian structures, in an attack President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called deliberate targeting.
Its most lethal attack was on a prison in Bilenke, in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, when four glide bombs hit the prison building. Ukraine's justice ministry said that 16 prisoners were killed and 43 were injured. Zelenskyy referred to it as a "targeted attack," stating Russia would not have been unaware that it had attacked a civilian complex.
The Russians did target this penal colony on purpose," Zelenskyy said. "There were many victims, and others have severe injuries." Danielle Bell, who is the head of the UN's human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine, cautioned that the attack could be a serious breach of international law. "Prisoners are civilians and have to be protected," she stated.
In another attack, a Kamianske hospital, Dnipropetrovsk region, was struck by a missile, killing three individuals, including a pregnant woman named Diana Koshyk. The local government reported that she was seven months pregnant and had been admitted to the maternity ward in relation to complications.
While the violence rages on, Trump's latest statements have captured international attention. In a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday, Trump indicated he was reducing his earlier 50-day timeline for Russia to show some progress on peace talks to 10 to 12 days. Addressing journalists later on Air Force One, Trump again said Russia's inaction was "a shame" and threatened further tariffs if no progress was being made.
“I’m giving them 10 days from today,” Trump said. “After that, we’ll act.”
Zelenskyy welcomed Trump’s tougher stance and called for even stricter sanctions. “Only powerful and painful sanctions can stop the killings,” he said.
The Kremlin, however, rejected accusations of targeting civilians. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed Russia remained committed to peace efforts, despite little progress from recent talks in Istanbul, which ended within an hour.
Experts are still wary of Moscow's intentions, noting that President Putin has not indicated any willingness to retreat from his overall aims, presumably thinking that Western support for Ukraine will ultimately collapse.
