KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Russia launched air strikes on eastern Ukraine overnight on Saturday killing at least 12 people, ignoring United States President Donald Trump’s threat of new sanctions if it does not stop bombing its neighbor.
A Russian assault hit the center of Dobropillia in Ukraine’s Donetsk region late Friday, killing 11 people and wounding 30, according to the emergency service.
Separately, one person was killed in a drone attack and seven others wounded early Saturday in the city of Bogodukhiv, said Kharkiv region military head Oleg Synegubov.
Trump’s warning came just hours after Moscow launched a “massive” drone and missile attack on Ukrainian energy facilities on Friday.
“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,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late,” he added.
Earlier on Friday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed calls for a mutual halt to aerial attacks on critical infrastructure following the recent Russian barrage.
Russia’s defense ministry confirmed earlier Friday it had carried out “precision” strikes on energy facilities.
The ministry said Saturday its air defense systems destroyed 31 Ukrainian drones over the past night, with most over the territory of Krasnodar Krai.
A Ukrainian drone attack also targeted Russia’s Kirishi oil refinery, with air defense forces shooting down one drone on approach and another over the territory of the facility, Leningrad governor Aleksandr Drozdenko wrote in a post, adding that the “external structure of one of the reservoirs was damaged by falling debris.”
A civilian was wounded by a drone attack in Belgorod district near the border, Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on Telegram.