Russia launched intense airstrikes on Ukraine on Saturday for the second consecutive night, after the United States, at the order of Donald Trump, stopped sharing satellite images with the Ukrainian government, authorities reported. At least 22 people have died.
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Washington’s decision to withhold intelligence and military aid came after the embarrassing meeting with the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, at the White House last week. President Donald Trump is trying to pressure Ukraine into accepting a peace deal with Russia.
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How does Ukraine’s situation change now that Trump has cut military and intelligence support?
Without US satellite images, Ukraine’s ability to launch attacks on Russian territory and defend itself from bombings is significantly reduced.
“This is what happens when someone appeases the barbarians,” wrote Polish President Donald Tusk on Saturday. “More bombs, more aggression, more victims. Another tragic night in Ukraine.”
At least 11 people lost their lives on Friday night in several attacks on a city in the besieged region of Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine, and another seven died in four localities near the front line, where Russian troops have made constant advances, according to regional governor Vadym Filashkin. Three more people died after a drone strike on a civilian workshop in the northeastern region of Kharkiv. One man died from bombings in the region.
Filashkin declared a day of mourning on Saturday and warned that more victims could be found among the rubble.
Russia fired two ballistic missiles at the city center of Dobropillya, in the front, and then launched an attack targeting the rescuers who responded to the incident, according to Zelensky.
“It is a vile and inhumane intimidation tactic that the Russians often resort to,” he stated.
The attack occurred just 24 hours after Moscow forces targeted Ukrainian energy facilities with dozens of missiles and drones, limiting their ability to provide heating and light to the population, and to supply weapons factories, which are vital for their defense.
Trump says that Putin “does what anyone would do”
When a reporter asked him on Friday in the Oval Office if the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, was taking advantage of the intelligence exchange pause to attack his neighbor, Trump pointed out that “I think he’s doing what anyone would do.”
Zelensky did not mention the intelligence exchange agreement, but he welcomed the proposal the Republican made on Friday to impose large-scale financial sanctions on Moscow until a ceasefire and peace agreement are reached.
“Anything that helps Putin finance the war must be destroyed,” said the Ukrainian president.
Zelensky also said that he and other senior Ukrainian officials would travel to Saudi Arabia this week to discuss proposals aimed at ending the war. In a post on X, he wrote that he would meet on Monday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but that only his team would remain in the country to meet with U.S. officials.
“Ukraine has sought peace since the very first second of this war,” he wrote. “There are realistic proposals on the table. The key is to move quickly and effectively.”
A barrage of missiles and drones
The Ukrainian Air Force indicated on Saturday that troops from the Kremlin launched three Iskander missiles and 145 drones against the country during the night. The operation included a mix of attack and distraction drones aimed at confusing the anti-aircraft defenses. One missile and 79 drones were shot down, while another 54 were lost without causing any damage, it added.
On the other hand, Russian forces shot down 31 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 26 over the Krasnodar region, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported on Saturday.
The remains of a drone caused a fire at the KINEF oil refinery in the Leningrad region in northern Russia, as explained in a statement by its governor, Aleksandr Drozdenko. No casualties were reported.