At least 12 people lost their lives in overnight Russian strikes on eastern Ukraine, the country’s emergency service reported Saturday.
The attacks come just days before high-level discussions in Saudi Arabia between US and Ukrainian officials aimed at brokering a truce.
A Russian strike late Friday targeted the center of Dobropillia in the Donetsk region, resulting in 11 deaths and injuring 30 others, according to emergency responders.
Meanwhile, in the Kharkiv region, a drone assault on the city of Bogodukhiv killed one person and left seven wounded, regional military chief Oleg Synegubov confirmed.
The escalation follows US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks on the conflict. While he threatened fresh sanctions and tariffs against Russia, he also suggested that negotiations with Moscow might be more straightforward than with Kyiv.
“I’m finding it more difficult frankly to deal with Ukraine and they don’t have the cards,” Trump stated on Friday. “It may be easier dealing with Russia.”
His comments came shortly after he berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a White House meeting and temporarily withheld US aid to Kyiv, citing a need to encourage diplomacy.
Diplomatic Maneuvering Amid Escalation
On Friday, Trump reiterated his warning to Russia over its relentless bombardment of Ukraine.
“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,” he wrote on Truth Social. He urged both nations to return to negotiations, warning, “To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced this message in a phone conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, stressing Trump’s priority to end the war swiftly.
According to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, Rubio emphasized that “all sides must take steps to secure a sustainable peace.”
Zelensky’s Diplomatic Efforts
On Monday, Zelensky is scheduled to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a day before Ukrainian officials sit down with US negotiators in Riyadh.
Following his meeting with the crown prince, the Ukrainian leader confirmed that his delegation would remain in Saudi Arabia to continue discussions with American representatives.
“Ukraine is most interested in peace,” Zelensky stated, reinforcing Kyiv’s commitment to ending the war.
Earlier on Friday, he proposed a mutual halt to aerial attacks on vital infrastructure, urging both sides to cease their air and naval offensives as an initial step toward lasting peace.
However, the Kremlin has dismissed the idea of a temporary ceasefire. Moscow’s defense ministry reported on Saturday that its air defense systems had neutralized 31 Ukrainian drones overnight, with most intercepted over the Krasnodar Krai region.
Additionally, Ukrainian drone strikes targeted Russia’s Kirishi oil refinery. Leningrad Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko confirmed that one drone was shot down near the facility while another crashed onto refinery grounds, causing minor structural damage.
Meanwhile, in the Belgorod district near the border, a civilian was injured in another drone attack, according to regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
Ukraine Responds with Fighter Jets
Russia’s defense ministry confirmed that its forces had executed “precision” strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
In response, Ukraine deployed recently acquired French Mirage fighter jets for the first time to intercept the assault, the Ukrainian air force reported.
DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy supplier, said its Black Sea facilities in Odesa were hit for the fourth consecutive night, while its gas operations in Poltava had been forced to shut down. State-owned Naftogaz also reported damage to its production sites.
Ukraine’s energy minister, German Galushchenko, accused Russia of targeting civilians by crippling energy and gas production.
“Russia is trying to hurt ordinary Ukrainians by shelling energy and gas production facilities,” he said.
US Reengages in Talks with Kyiv
Following recent tensions between Trump and Zelensky, US officials signaled that ceasefire negotiations with Kyiv were back on track.
US envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that he would meet with Ukrainian representatives in Saudi Arabia to discuss an “initial ceasefire” and explore a broader framework for peace with Russia.
Meanwhile, European leaders, wary of a potential US withdrawal from Ukraine, have agreed to strengthen the EU’s defense posture in response to the ongoing war.
As diplomatic efforts intensify, the situation on the ground remains volatile, with both Russia and Ukraine ramping up their military actions while simultaneously engaging in fragile discussions about a possible ceasefire.
