At least 16 people were killed in a Russian airstrike on a detention center in Zaporizhzhia, southern Ukraine late Monday night, just hours after US President Donald Trump announced a new deadline for the Kremlin to end the war.
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Bilenkivska facility that was targeted was part of a wave of attacks on 73 towns and villages across Ukraine, making it the deadliest attack on a prison since Russia’s full-scale invasion more than three years ago.
Hours before the incident, Trump again urged Moscow to stop the bloodshed and gave President Vladimir Putin 10 to 12 days to show serious commitment to a ceasefire.
If it fails, new economic sanctions will be imposed, including blocking Russian oil exports. The new deadline is shorter than the previously announced 50 days.
However, the Kremlin reacted coolly to the warning. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov simply said that his party “took note” of the US President’s statement and stressed that special military operations were still ongoing.
Zelensky said in his statement that the attacks from Monday night to Tuesday morning had killed at least 22 civilians and wounded 85 others.
Five more victims were killed on Tuesday when an aid distribution area near Izium was also targeted by Russian artillery.
In response, Zelensky thanked Trump for his firmness and called for tougher sanctions against Moscow.
He also stressed that the sanctions must be truly painful and effective to put maximum pressure on the Kremlin.
