Russian strikes killed at least 15 people, including three children, in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region on Saturday, hours after President Donald Trump announced a deal allowing Russian diesel to reach U.S. and global markets.
Ukrainian officials said Russian guided aerial bombs struck residential buildings in the city, destroying part of an apartment block and trapping residents under the rubble. At least 16 people were wounded, while rescue workers continued searching for survivors and assessing the damage. The attack was part of a wider wave of Russian strikes across Ukraine, including a daytime missile attack on Kyiv that injured four people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sharply criticized Trump’s diesel agreement, saying relief for Russia’s energy sector could provide Moscow with additional revenue to sustain the war. Trump said Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by additional shipments in November and later months, potentially totaling more than four million tons. The U.S. Treasury also announced a temporary waiver of energy sanctions to facilitate the exports.
The timing intensified criticism in Kyiv as Ukrainian and European officials held discussions with U.S. representatives about possible paths toward ending the war. The deadly strikes underscored the widening gap between diplomatic efforts and the continuing escalation on the battlefield.