At least five people have been killed and several others injured following fresh Russian attacks across eastern Ukraine, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeks to revive diplomatic efforts to end the more than four-year conflict.
Ukrainian authorities said a pregnant woman and two other civilians were killed during overnight missile strikes on Chuhuiv in the northeastern Kharkiv region. Six additional people were injured, while residential buildings and commercial properties sustained significant damage.
In the city of Kharkiv, drone attacks left 16 people wounded, including children. Emergency responders were deployed to affected areas as fires broke out in several locations and vehicles were destroyed.
Further south in the Donetsk region, regional officials reported that two people were killed in separate attacks on the towns of Bilozerske and Druzhkivka. Eleven others were injured in Sloviansk and Shabelkivka following continued shelling and aerial strikes.
The latest attacks come amid an escalation in hostilities between both sides. Ukraine has intensified long-range drone operations targeting Russian energy infrastructure, while Russia has continued large-scale missile and drone assaults across Ukrainian territory.
Despite the renewed violence, President Zelenskyy said diplomatic efforts remain active. He disclosed that he held what he described as a productive telephone conversation with senior United States envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, expressing optimism about renewed international engagement aimed at ending the war.
According to Zelenskyy, discussions focused on strengthening diplomatic initiatives and maintaining global attention on the conflict despite growing international concern over tensions in the Middle East.
The Ukrainian leader also held talks with key European allies during a visit to London, where he met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine and discussed strategies for increasing pressure on Russia through economic measures and continued military assistance.
In a joint statement, the European leaders pledged to coordinate their efforts ahead of upcoming G7, NATO, and other international summits, emphasizing continued support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.
Zelenskyy has continued to advocate for direct negotiations with Moscow. Last week, he revealed that he had sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin proposing a face-to-face meeting aimed at advancing peace efforts.
However, Putin dismissed the proposal during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, stating that preliminary work by negotiators and experts must be completed before any meeting between the two leaders could take place.
As fighting continues across multiple fronts, hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough remain uncertain, with both sides maintaining their military operations while international partners push for renewed dialogue.
