Russia left a Ukrainian city in total darkness overnight Wednesday after launching drones targeting energy infrastructure and two hospitals — less than two hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin promised President Trump he would halt such attacks.
Some 145 drones hit energy stations and even two hospitals, according to Kyiv — almost immediately after Putin promised Trump he would halt attacks on “energy and infrastructure.”
Furious Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Putin’s “words are very different from reality” while demanding more pressure be put on Russia.
Russia and Ukraine accused each other of launching air attacks that struck civilian targets. APThe overnight attack targeted energy infrastructure in Slovyansk, a city of 100,000 people in the Donetsk region, and the railway power system in the Dnipropetrovsk region, according to the Kyiv Post.
“Russia is attacking civilian infrastructure and people — right now,” Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, wrote overnight on Telegram.
Part of the city was left without electricity after the attack, but trains were unaffected. Drones also struck two hospitals in the Sumy region, forcing both patients and hospital staff to evacuate.
No casualties were immediately reported.
A 60-year-old man was injured near Kyiv, which saw dozens of homes damaged or destroyed in the attack.
The Ukrainian military said Russia launched 145 drones, 72 of which were shot down and 56 lost.
The aggressive move from Russia — immediately after agreeing to a partial cease-fire — drew swift global backlash.
Boris Pistorius, Germany’s defense minister, accused Putin of “playing a game” after Ukraine first reported the strikes on civilians.
“Attacks on civilian infrastructure in the first night after this supposedly pivotal and great phone call have not abated,” Pistorius told German broadcaster ZDF. “Putin is playing a game here and I’m sure that the American president won’t be able to sit and watch for much longer.”
Ukrainian authorities say a Russian drone strike destroyed structures and cars overnight. REUTERSRep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) also slammed the move, writing on X that Putin “insulted President Trump” by going back on his word.
“Putin’s forces targeted power systems in Slovyansk with guide bombs and attacks continue across Ukraine now,” he wrote.
“Putin does not want peace, he wants Ukraine.”
Rescuers evacuated patients from a Ukrainian hospital following a strike in Sumy. STATE EMERGENSY SERVICE OF UKRAINE/AFP via Getty Images
A Ukrainian hospital went up in flames Wednesday after a strike in Krasnopillya. STATE EMERGENSY SERVICE OF UKRAINE/AFP via Getty ImagesMeanwhile, Russia also accused Ukraine of launching air attacks overnight, with authorities saying an oil terminal was hit in the southern part of the country that caused a fire but no injuries.
The defense ministry noted its units destroyed 57 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 35 over the border Kursk region. It was not immediately clear how many drones Ukraine launched.
The two-hour phone call, which Trump said was “very good and productive,” ended with an agreement to halt attacks on energy and infrastructure “with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a Complete Ceasfire,” Trump said afterward.
Now, after the fallout from the overnight attacks, Zelensky said he plans to speak with Trump on Wednesday to learn more about his call with Putin.
“Today I will have contact with President Trump,” Zelensky said at a news conference in Helsinki. “We will discuss the details of the next steps with him.”
With Post wires
