In a relentless escalation of hostilities, Russian forces targeted Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, with powerful glide bombs and drones in overnight attacks. The assault struck the city’s main hospital, injuring seven people and forcing the evacuation of 50 patients, according to Oleh Syniehubov, the regional head. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is set to visit Washington this week, emphasized that the primary targets of the attack were energy facilities, though specific details were not disclosed. ‘Every day, every night, Russia strikes power plants, power lines, and our gas facilities,’ Zelenskyy stated on Telegram, underscoring the ongoing campaign to cripple Ukraine’s power supply since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. This strategy has left civilians without heat and running water during harsh winters. Zelenskyy is expected to appeal to U.S. President Donald Trump for advanced long-range weapons, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities. Such a move, previously avoided by Washington to prevent escalation, could heighten tensions between the U.S. and Russia. However, it may also provide leverage to push Moscow toward negotiations. Ukrainian officials and military analysts report that Ukraine’s long-range strikes are already disrupting Russian oil production and causing significant gas shortages. Zelenskyy has urged international partners, particularly the U.S. and Europe, to supply air defense systems to protect Ukraine’s vast territory. ‘The world must force Moscow to sit down at the table for real negotiations,’ he asserted.
Russian aerial attack hits a Ukrainian hospital, days before Zelenskyy meets Trump
