Russian Missile and Drone Strikes Kill 21 in Ukraine, Including Six Children

At least 21 people were killed and over 50 injured in two separate Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities on Friday. In Kryvyi Rih, a missile strike took the lives of 16 individuals, including six children. Meanwhile, Kharkiv was targeted by a drone attack that killed five people and left 34 injured.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on social media that rescue operations were ongoing in both cities. In Kryvyi Rih, efforts were underway to recover survivors and identify victims. He confirmed that six "Shahed" drones were used in the Kharkiv attack, suggesting a deliberate targeting of civilian areas.

 Energy Infrastructure Also Targeted

In Kherson, a Russian FPV drone struck the local thermal power plant, causing damage to energy infrastructure. President Zelensky condemned the attack, emphasizing that energy facilities were supposed to be protected under agreements made between Russia and the United States.

 Accusations of Ceasefire Breach

Zelensky further accused Russia of violating its ceasefire commitments. He stated that the attacks on infrastructure were intentional and contradicted prior diplomatic assurances.

"Russia knows these are protected energy facilities. Every promise they make is broken by weapons. Diplomacy holds no value for them," he said.

According to Zelensky, a ceasefire could have been possible earlier, but President Vladimir Putin has consistently rejected it. He added that Russia has not agreed to a ceasefire since March 11, despite growing internal opposition to the war.

 International Peace Talks in Saudi Arabia

Between March 23 and 25, the United States facilitated expert-level meetings with both Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. These discussions followed earlier talks between U.S. President Donald Trump, President Putin, and President Zelensky.

The primary agenda included ensuring maritime security in the Black Sea, protecting commercial shipping, safeguarding energy infrastructure, and reinforcing diplomatic efforts to establish long-term peace.