Ukraine has condemned Russia for committing a “war crime” following a deadly attack on Kharkiv over the weekend, as US-backed efforts to broker a ceasefire continue to stall.
On Saturday night into Sunday, six strikes hit the northeastern city, damaging a military hospital and residential buildings. Ukrainian officials reported that at least two people were killed, and 30 others, including children, were wounded. Dmytro Chubenko, a spokesperson for the Kharkiv regional prosecutor’s office, confirmed the fatalities and said the attacks left one home in ruins and caused extensive damage to surrounding houses, cars, and office buildings.
The Ukrainian military reported that a Shahed drone was responsible for damaging both the hospital and nearby buildings, with casualties reported among the military personnel undergoing treatment at the medical center. However, Kyiv has not disclosed the number of soldiers wounded.
Ukraine has accused Russia of violating international humanitarian law and committing a war crime with these attacks.
The latest deadly strikes come amid continued US-led efforts to bring an end to the more than three-year conflict. US President Donald Trump’s administration has been in talks with both Russia and Ukraine, but Moscow has rejected a proposal for an unconditional ceasefire. Ukraine, in turn, has accused Russia of deliberately stalling negotiations and showing no intent to halt its military offensive.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticized the lack of a meaningful response from Russia, saying a ceasefire could have been achieved if “real pressure” had been applied to Moscow. He also thanked countries that have increased sanctions against Russia in response to its actions.
While both Russia and Ukraine agreed on the concept of a Black Sea truce during talks with US officials earlier this week, Russia has stated that the deal would not be implemented unless the West lifted certain sanctions.
On the battlefield, Russia’s defense ministry claimed on Saturday that its forces had captured two Ukrainian villages: Shchebraki in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and Panteleimonivka in eastern Donetsk.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his long-standing goal of removing Zelenskyy and installing a more Moscow-friendly government in Kyiv. Putin, who has been in power for 25 years, has raised doubts about Zelenskyy’s legitimacy, especially after his initial five-year mandate ended in May 2024. Under Ukrainian law, elections are suspended during periods of major military conflict, and Zelenskyy’s political opponents have called for postponing elections until after the war ends.
