Moscow on Saturday reported the capture of two more villages in eastern and southern Ukraine as its military push continues, despite ongoing but faltering ceasefire efforts led by U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to the Russian defense ministry, its forces took control of Shchebraki in the Zaporizhzhia region and Panteleimonivka in Donetsk.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia launched over 170 drones overnight, targeting multiple regions, including Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Khmelnytskyi.
In Dnipro, an attack on a hotel complex resulted in four fatalities and 21 injuries, including a pregnant woman.
“Russia is openly undermining global peace efforts. It continues to prolong the war and spread terror because it faces no substantial pressure,” Zelensky remarked.
For weeks, the United States has been attempting to broker a ceasefire, particularly concerning strikes on energy infrastructure in both Ukraine and Russia. While both sides have agreed in principle, the terms of enforcement remain uncertain, with Kyiv and Moscow accusing each other of obstruction.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed the idea of a “transitional administration” for Ukraine under UN oversight—an arrangement that would necessitate Zelensky’s removal before any formal peace agreement could be reached.
