Russia launched one of its deadliest nighttime attacks on Ukraine in months early Tuesday, just a day after Donald Trump announced he was giving Russia a new 10-12 day deadline to show progress toward ending the war or face fresh sanctions.
Ukrainian officials reported that Russian strikes across the country killed at least 25 people, including a pregnant 23-year-old woman and over a dozen prisoners. Around 100 others were injured nationwide.
President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed Trump’s recent tougher stance toward Vladimir Putin, stating that only strong measures against Moscow could stop the bloodshed. “Every Russian attack, every civilian death proves that Moscow deserves severe, painful sanctions that will force them to stop killing and make peace,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
During Monday’s talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump said he was shortening his previous 50-day ultimatum for Putin to about 10-12 days, expressing frustration over Russia’s lack of progress. “We thought this was settled multiple times, then Putin starts bombing cities like Kyiv, killing innocent people. That’s unacceptable,” Trump said.
Later, aboard Air Force One returning from Scotland, Trump told reporters Russia hadn’t responded to his warning, calling it “a shame.” He announced a 10-day countdown starting Tuesday, after which new tariffs would be imposed.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied Russia targets civilians, claiming Moscow remains committed to peaceful conflict resolution. Last week’s Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul yielded little beyond a prisoner exchange, lasting less than an hour.
Analysts suggest Putin remains unwilling to compromise, believing he can outlast Western resolve—especially as the Trump administration has deprioritized Ukraine support. Kyiv hopes Trump’s stronger rhetoric will translate into action, including new sanctions and continued military aid.
The deadliest strike hit a prison in Bilenke, Zaporizhzhia region, where Ukraine’s justice ministry reported four glide bomb attacks killed 16 inmates and wounded 43. “The Russians knew they were hitting civilians in this prison,” Zelensky said.”This was a deliberate strike, carefully targeted—not an accident,” Zelenskyy stated. “The Russians must have known they were attacking civilians in this prison. Many were killed, 43 more were wounded, and some have life-threatening injuries.”
The UN’s human rights team in Ukraine called the strike a potential war crime. “Prisoners are civilians and must be safeguarded under international law,” said mission leader Danielle Bell.
Zelenskyy also reported that a hospital in Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk region, was struck, killing three people—among them a 23-year-old pregnant woman. Local officials identified her as Diana Koshyk, seven months pregnant, who had been hospitalized due to pregnancy complications.
