Ukraine reports at least 25 killed in Russian strikes.

At least 25 people have been killed in Ukraine following the latest wave of Russian airstrikes, with Ukrainian officials confirming the deaths as the conflict continues to intensify.

On Saturday, local authorities reported that an attack on Donetsk Region killed at least 11 people and injured 40, including six children. Other areas, including Kharkiv and Odesa, also suffered damage as homes and infrastructure were struck.

In recent days, Russian attacks have escalated, coinciding with the US halting military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv. This development follows a tense confrontation between President Donald Trump and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office last week.

Following the attacks, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk condemned the violence, stating, "This is what happens when someone appeases barbarians." He added in a social media post, "More bombs, more aggression, more victims."

The most devastating strikes occurred late Friday in the Donetsk Region town of Dobropillya, where two ballistic missiles targeted eight residential buildings and a shopping center, killing at least 11 people. Zelensky shared on Telegram that after emergency services arrived, Russia launched another strike, this time targeting the rescuers. "Such strikes show that Russia's goals are unchanged," he remarked.

Other strikes in the region resulted in nine more deaths and 13 injuries over Friday and Saturday. Additionally, a drone attack in Bohodukhiv, Kharkiv Region, killed three people and wounded seven on Saturday morning. The same day, another drone strike hit Odesa, damaging both civilian and energy infrastructure. DTEK, the region's energy company, confirmed that this was the seventh attack on Odesa's energy system in just three weeks.

While the situation escalates in Ukraine, the US and Europe face difficult decisions. Former President Trump stated on Friday that dealing with Ukraine was becoming "more difficult" than managing relations with Russia, adding that the US was "doing very well with Russia" and that it might be easier to work with Moscow than Kyiv. Earlier, Trump had mentioned considering large-scale sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire was achieved.

On top of halting military and intelligence support, the US also suspended Ukraine's access to certain satellite imagery, according to space technology company Maxar. This decision came just one week after a heated exchange between Trump and Zelensky at the White House, where Trump accused Zelensky of being "disrespectful" to the US.

As concerns grow in Europe over the future of US support for Ukraine's security, EU leaders met in Brussels on Thursday to approve increased defense spending and reaffirm their commitment to supporting Ukraine.

Next week, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, will meet with Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabia to discuss potential peace talks and a ceasefire with Russia.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, the country has gained control over approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.