A series of Russian attacks on Saturday resulted in multiple civilian casualties across various regions of Ukraine. In the central city of Dnipro, local officials reported that the death toll from missile strikes rose to five, including a child. A glide bomb strike in Kostiantynivka, near the frontline in the Donetsk region, killed one person and injured three others, according to the regional governor. Additionally, Russian shelling in a small town west of Kherson claimed the lives of two individuals. A drone strike in Kyiv during an overnight assault also resulted in the death of a teenager, with the barrage lasting several hours.
In response to the escalating violence, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Kyiv’s allies to increase pressure on Moscow. In his nightly video address, he emphasized that the attacks highlighted Russia’s “determination to continue its aggression.” He warned that the lack of decisive action from partners only emboldened Russian President Vladimir Putin to escalate his tactics. “The world can stop the escalation of war. Abstractions and words are not enough for this. Concrete steps are needed,” Zelenskyy asserted.
Meanwhile, G7 finance ministers met and pledged to intensify efforts to prevent Russia from circumventing sanctions imposed following its invasion of Ukraine. A December 2022 agreement aimed to restrict Russian petroleum sales without excessively disrupting global oil prices. However, some countries, particularly China, have continued to import Russian crude oil despite the price cap. The G7 stated their commitment to pursuing additional initiatives in response to violations of the oil price cap, although specifics were not disclosed.
Zelenskyy also raised concerns about Russia’s potential plans to deploy North Korean troops in combat against Ukraine. He indicated that Ukrainian intelligence had determined the first North Korean military forces would be sent to the battlefield between Sunday and Monday, labeling this a significant escalation by Russia.
