Russian forces continued their relentless bombardment of Ukrainian cities overnight into Saturday, killing two people and wounding more than a dozen others as diplomatic efforts to halt the war remain stalled. The Kremlin shows no sign of easing its campaign, even as global attention shifts to the ongoing US-Israeli conflict in Iran.
In the northeastern Kharkiv region, a barrage of Iranian-made Shahed drones struck overnight, primarily targeting civilian infrastructure and residential zones. Ukrainian authorities reported that a 12-storey apartment building was hit, damaging its external facade and injuring residents. One man suffered shrapnel wounds to the chest after a drone struck the 11th floor where his apartment is located; another resident was injured by shattered glass. Several civilian vehicles in a nearby car park were also damaged.
Deadly Bus Attack in Kherson
In the Dniprovskyi district of the southern Kherson region, a Russian strike hit a civilian public transport bus in the early hours of Saturday, killing two people on the spot. The victims were identified as an employee of a utility company and a woman whose identity has yet to be confirmed. Seven other passengers—six men and one woman—were injured and transferred to hospitals for medical care.
Separately, the Kherson Military Administration reported one additional death and ten injuries from attacks across the southern region. Ukraine’s Air Force stated that Russia launched over 160 drones targeting 12 different locations across the country overnight. Approximately 140 of these were intercepted or jammed, but about two dozen struck their intended targets. The Air Force warned that further attacks are expected and that its forces remain on high alert.
The relentless strikes come as ceasefire talks appear to have stalled, with the war in Iran dominating international priorities. Ukraine has rejected Moscow's recent proposal for a Victory Day truce, demanding a lasting ceasefire instead, as reported by European Pulse.
Ukraine's Counterstrikes on Russian Oil Infrastructure
While Russia continues its aerial assault, Ukrainian drones have been achieving success on the battlefield, striking energy facilities deep inside Russian territory. These attacks aim to slash Moscow’s oil exports, a key source of funding for its invasion. Kyiv’s drones have hit the oil refinery and export terminal in the Black Sea town of Tuapse on four occasions in just over two weeks, sparking fires that prompted local evacuations and sent up massive plumes of smoke. Tuapse lies roughly 450 kilometres from the front lines.
On Thursday, Ukraine announced it struck an oil pumping station in Russia’s Perm region, more than 1,500 kilometres from Ukraine, for two consecutive days. Russian media confirmed the attacks, though Perm Governor Dmitry Makhonin claimed only that drones had hit industrial facilities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Friday that Russia has lost at least $7 billion (€5.97 billion) since the start of the year due to attacks on its oil sector. Earlier in the week, he said Ukrainian intelligence indicates a drop in exports from key oil ports such as Ust-Luga and Primorsk. However, the economic impact remains unclear, as rising oil prices from the Iran conflict and a related easing of US sanctions have helped replenish the Kremlin’s coffers.
The ongoing war continues to reshape European security dynamics. The EU must not 'humiliate' itself by seeking direct talks with Russia, warned Kaja Kallas, as reported by European Pulse. Meanwhile, Ukraine's accession challenges are coming to the fore following Viktor Orbán's exit from the EU stage, as covered in this analysis.
