Vladimir Putin has ignored Donald Trump’s warnings to stop ‘pounding Ukraine’ as a huge barrage of missile strikes killed 20 in Ukraine and left dozens more injured.
A single town in the war-torn Donetsk region was bombarded 11 times, days after the US suspended military aid to Ukraine in order to pressure the country into accepting a peace deal.
The latest wave of attacks in the town of Dobropillya claimed the lives of a least 11 people, including five children, with more than 30 left injured.
Strikes in Pokrovsk, Kostyantynivka, Myrnograd and Ivanopillya killed another six people, the Independent reported.
Meanwhile three more were killed after a Russian drone hit a warehouse in Kharkiv.
Donetsk’s governor, Vadym Filashkin declared a day of mourning on Saturday for the victims, warning that more people could be found in the rubble following the deadly strikes.
Russia was further accused of targeting rescuers with drone as they rushed to extinguish blazes in eight residential buildings damaged by missiles.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack on emergency workers was a ‘vile and inhumane intimidation tactic’ by the Kremlin.
Firefighters in Dobropillia, which was bombarded with 11 strikes, attempt to extinguish a fire on residential buildings in the town in Donetsk
Mr Trump, despite acknowledging Russia was ‘absolutely pounding’ Ukraine on Friday, suggested the Kremlin was doing what ‘anybody else would do’
A Ukranian fireman attempts to cool the temperature of a burnt-out building in Bohodukhiv, in the Kharkiv region
He said in a message on Saturday night: ‘Today, all day long, work continued in the city of Dobropillya, the Donetsk region, following a Russian strike.
‘It was one of the most brutal attacks, a combined strike carefully planned to cause maximum damage. Missiles, along with Shahed drones, targeted the central part of the city. Nine residential buildings, a shopping center, and stores were hit.
‘Russia continues to prove with its cruelty, day after day, that nothing has changed for them in Moscow – they are not thinking about how to end the war, but how to destroy and capture more while the world allows them to continue.’
Mr Zelensky thanked world leaders who condemned Russia’s actions and ‘call things by their true names’ .
He continued: ‘Of course, we are doing everything we can to protect lives. I am grateful to all the leaders, diplomats from partner countries, and civil society figures who support Ukraine, who condemned these Russian strikes, and who call things by their true names.
‘It’s important that we continue to coordinate all our efforts with our partners, ensuring effective defense and doing everything possible to bring peace closer.’
The latest round of strikes came after Russia aimed drones and missiles at Ukraine’s energy and gas infrastructure, in a bid to cut off the nation’s power.
It comes after President Trump said the Kremlin’s latest barrage of 67 missiles and almost 200 drones was what ‘anybody else would do’.
He threatened to step up sanctions on Russia for ‘absolutely pounding’ Ukraine.
Writing on his social media platform, Mr Trump said: ‘Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large-scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED.’
‘To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!’
But asked on Friday whether Putin was taking advantage of his suspension of aid, he replied: ‘Probably anybody in that position would be doing that right now.’
Mr Trump also said it was ‘easier’ to deal with the Kremlin’s dictator than with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
He said of Putin: ‘I think he’s going to be more generous than he has to be.’
The US President is also reportedly considering withdrawing more than 35,000 troops from Germany amid his increasing frustration with much of Europe’s stance on the conflict, which he believes is ‘pushing for war’.
Some 160,000 personnel are stationed outside of the US, with the majority positioned in Germany.
Damaged residential buildings at the site of a Russian strike in Dobropillia, Donetsk region
Mr Trump’s incendiary conversation with Volodymyr Zelensky last week accelerated progress for a ‘coalition of the willing’ between other world leaders
Donald Trump is considering pulling 35,000 troops out of Germany as Russia launched a deadly overnight barrage in the Donetsk region
It comes as the US President suggested it was easier to do deals with Putin than Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky
Hungary is among countries where they could be relocated, with prime minister Victor Orban having consistently opposed EU sanctions on Russia.
In January, it was reported that Mr Trump intends to reduce US personnel in Europe by 20 per cent and is set to ask for a ‘financial contribution’ from member states to maintain the remaining troops.
Mr Trump’s rapid withdrawal of support has rallied other leaders into a ‘coalition of the willing’ in the wake of the President’s incendiary press conference with Volodymyr Zelensky last week.
Earlier today, Sir Keir Starmer announced that Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese had ‘made a commitment’ to consider joining the group, which has now grown to around 20 members.
Mr Zelensky, who is due in Saudi Arabia on Monday for talks of a peace deal with the Americans, said the latest round of attacks showed that Putin’s goals remain ‘unchanged’.
Reports from the Kremlin suggest Russia is open to a temporary cessation of hostilities, but only if certain preconditions are met.
Emergency workers attend damaged buildings, including a car dealership and service station, following a Russian drone attack in Odesa
Workers extinguish a fire on a five-story building in Dobropillia in Donetsk region
A man stands among debris at a building destroyed in a Russian drone attack in Odesa on Saturday
According to individuals familiar with high-level negotiations, these include a concrete framework for a final peace agreement and a carefully curated list of countries to participate in a prospective peacekeeping mission.
Moscow has rejected plans for a temporary ceasefire, which were also proposed by Britain and France, and insisted it would never let peacekeepers from NATO countries into Ukraine, after the two countries suggested a European force could police any permanent settlement.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD), Russia launched its ‘largest’ multi-axis Long Range Aviation (LRA) ‘strike package’ so far of 2025 overnight on Thursday.
Ukraine also struck targets in Russia including partially destroying the Kirishinefteorgsintez oil refinery in Kirishi in Leningrad region near St Petersburg, where the attack also disrupted flights at the city’s Pulkovo airport.
