Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed to respond to a deadly Russian overnight attack that killed at least 10 people in the Kharkiv region, as both sides continued launching large-scale drone strikes amid stalled efforts to end the war.
The attack struck the village of Pechenihy in the Kharkiv region, according to Ukrainian authorities. Zelenskyy said that 10 people had been confirmed dead, while others were injured and receiving medical treatment. “As of now, 10 people have been reported killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that emergency services had extinguished fires at the site and were continuing to assess the damage and determine the circumstances of the attack.
Zelenskyy said that Ukraine would respond militarily to the Russian strike while calling on its international partners to increase pressure on Moscow. The Ukrainian President also urged allied countries to complement Ukraine’s military response with diplomatic and economic measures aimed at increasing the cost of Russia’s continued offensive. “And it is equally important that our partners also complement our just kinetic responses with their own actions to put pressure on Russia and support Ukraine,” he said.
The remarks came as Russian and Ukrainian forces continued exchanging attacks despite repeated diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of prolonging the conflict. “Putin continues to drag the war out instead of accepting Ukraine’s realistic ceasefire proposals and ending the bloodshed,” Sybiha said.
He called for additional sanctions and international pressure on Moscow, arguing that Russia should face increasing consequences for continuing military operations. “As long as Moscow refuses peace, it must face a growing cost for prolonging this war through additional sanctions, isolation, and strict accountability for Russian crimes,” Sybiha said.
Ukraine Calls For International Accountability
Sybiha also appealed to countries and international organisations to support efforts to hold Russian officials accountable for alleged crimes committed during the war. “I urge all states to join our accountability efforts, including the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine, which will soon begin its operations in The Hague,” he said.
He described accountability as a matter extending beyond the immediate victims of the conflict, saying it was important for the wider international community. “Accountability for Russian crimes is a matter of principle – not only for the victims of Russian attacks, but for the entire international community,” Sybiha said.
The latest Russian attack came as Ukraine mounted its own extensive drone operation against targets in Russia. More than 600 Ukrainian drones were launched toward Moscow and surrounding areas overnight, according to Russian authorities and reports.
The attacks followed even larger Ukrainian strikes over the weekend as Kyiv continued its campaign against Russian military and infrastructure targets. Several facilities near Moscow were reportedly hit, including a warehouse belonging to Russian e-commerce company Wildberries. At least three people were reported injured in the attacks.
Russian-controlled areas elsewhere also reported strikes. Authorities in occupied Crimea said the peninsula experienced heavy attacks, while its main power supplier reported electricity outages in parts of the region. The latest exchange illustrates the continuing escalation in long-range attacks by both sides, with drones increasingly being used to strike targets far from the front line.
The attacks come against the backdrop of continued diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, but the two sides remain divided over the conditions for a ceasefire and a broader peace agreement. Kyiv has repeatedly called for an end to Russian attacks and has sought stronger security guarantees and international pressure on Moscow.
Russia, meanwhile, has maintained demands that Ukraine has rejected. For Ukraine, the latest casualties in Kharkiv are another reminder of the continued vulnerability of communities near the Russian border. For Russia, the expanding Ukrainian drone campaign has demonstrated Kyiv’s growing ability to strike targets deep inside Russian territory.
With both sides continuing to launch attacks, Zelenskyy’s pledge to retaliate raises the prospect of further strikes in the coming days. His appeal for international partners to increase pressure on Moscow also reflects Kyiv’s broader strategy of combining military action with sanctions and international accountability efforts as it seeks to force Russia toward negotiations.
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