Russian airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least 15 individuals in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, as confirmed by Ukrainian authorities on Saturday. This incident occurred a day after U.S. President Donald Trump revealed a deal to procure Russian diesel, a move that Ukraine cautioned would provide financial support for Moscow’s activities in Ukraine.
Among the casualties were three children, who lost their lives when Russian aerial bombs struck residential areas in Zaporizhzhia, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service. The attack also left at least 16 individuals injured.
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has escalated into an extended aerial battle, while their ground forces have reached a standstill for over four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Ukraine is facing challenges in countering the increasing Russian bombardments, which have claimed the lives of over 60 people in the past four days.
In a surprising turn of events, Trump announced on Friday that an agreement had been reached to acquire diesel fuel from Russia. This decision marked a significant shift from the previous U.S. stance of pressuring Moscow regarding its actions in Ukraine and was seen as an attempt to address rising fuel costs ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the new U.S.-Russia diesel deal, highlighting that Russia responded to the lifting of diesel export sanctions by launching airstrikes on residential areas in Zaporizhzhia. Zelenskyy emphasized the need for clearer signals to deter further attacks.
The announcement of the deal came as Trump was expected to discuss a suspected case of plague in Russia with President Vladimir Putin. Instead, Trump revealed the terms of the agreement, which included immediate supply of over 300,000 tons of diesel from Russia, with additional shipments scheduled for the coming months.
Zelenskyy condemned the deal in an online statement, describing it as enabling Russia to prolong the conflict and inflict further harm. He expressed disappointment in the decision and its potential consequences.
As the deal unfolded, Zelenskyy criticized the handling of the situation by labeling it as a weak decision from strong allies. The announcement coincided with discussions between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Ukrainian officials in Miami regarding proposals to end the war.
