Additional Coverage:
Ukraine Reels From Deadly Russian Missile Strikes as Zelensky Addresses NATO Summit
A wave of Russian missile strikes has devastated several Ukrainian cities, claiming the lives of dozens of civilians, including children, in one of the deadliest 48-hour periods in recent months. The attacks coincided with a key NATO meeting in the Netherlands, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a direct appeal for continued support.
On Tuesday, a ballistic missile struck Dnipro, a major city in southeastern Ukraine, resulting in 15 fatalities and widespread destruction. Nearly 50 buildings, including schools, hospitals, and residential areas, were damaged.
Dnipro’s mayor, Borys Filatov, described the devastation as unprecedented, noting that even ambulances struggled to keep up with the overwhelming number of casualties. Over 170 people were injured, with approximately 100 remaining hospitalized.
A passenger train carrying 500 people also sustained damage.
The Dnipro attack followed a similarly devastating strike on an apartment building in Kyiv on Monday, which claimed nine lives. Among the victims were multiple members of several families, including a mother and her 11-year-old daughter.
A journalist reported losing her brother, his wife, and her sister-in-law’s father in the same attack, leaving her 16-year-old nephew as the sole survivor. Further strikes across the country, impacting Sumy, Kherson, Donetsk, and Odesa, added to the mounting death toll, which reached several dozen.
While attending the NATO summit in The Hague, President Zelensky met with European leaders, including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, President of the European Council Antonia Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to secure continued support for Ukraine. He also hoped to meet with US President Donald Trump.
Zelensky emphasized the link between Russia and Iran, highlighting Iran’s substantial military support of Russia, including the provision of ballistic missiles and drones. He reported that Russia has launched thousands of Iranian-designed Shahed drones against Ukraine since 2022, stating that such attacks would be impossible without Iran’s backing. Zelensky expressed his belief that Putin remains committed to war and rejects any peace proposals.
British Defense Secretary John Healy stressed the importance of maintaining focus on Ukraine amidst the escalating conflict in the Middle East, emphasizing NATO’s resolve to continue supporting the embattled nation. Zelensky’s visit to the Netherlands followed a trip to London on Monday, where he met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III.