Casualties Mount from Russian Attacks Ahead of Trump-Zelensky Summit

Five Dead, Dozens Injured in Kharkiv Drone Strike
Fuel Facility Hit in Southern Odesa Amid Escalating Attacks

In the lead-up to the White House summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on August 18 (local time), Russian attacks on Ukraine resulted in numerous casualties.

According to AFP, Ukrainian authorities reported that a five-story apartment building in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, was struck by a Russian drone attack in the early hours of the day, leaving five people dead and more than ten injured. A local prosecutor stated, "Among the deceased was a girl approximately one and a half years old," adding, "At least 18 people, including children, were injured."

Oleh Synehubov, the regional governor, said that four drones were used in the attack, which completely destroyed part of the building and caused fires on at least three floors.

Donald Trump, President of the United States. Photo by Yonhap News

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that just hours before this incident, a Russian ballistic missile attack had injured at least 11 people. In the southern Odesa region, a Russian drone attack in the early morning hours triggered a large fire at a fuel and energy facility. However, there were no casualties reported in the initial accounts.

The Ukrainian Air Force stated that overnight, Russia launched 140 drones and four missiles across Ukraine, striking 25 locations in six regions, and that 88 drones were shot down.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha claimed that Russia continues to kill civilians ahead of the summit between the Ukrainian and U.S. presidents. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, "Russia is a killing and war machine that Ukraine is holding back," stressing, "It must be stopped through Atlantic solidarity and pressure."

On the same day at the White House, President Zelensky is scheduled to meet President Trump along with leaders from major European countries to discuss a proposal for negotiations with Russia to end the war. During this meeting, President Trump is expected to try to persuade Ukraine to accept the peace terms he discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15, which focus on ceding part of Ukraine's territory to Russia in exchange for Western guarantees of Ukraine's security.