AT least 14 people have been killed in an overnight blitz in different regions of Ukraine as Russia continues to pummel the war-torn nation.
More than 30 people were wounded, including five children in a strike in the Donetsk region as both Russians and Ukrainians marked International Women’s Day on Saturday.
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Other attacks were launched in the Kharkiv region in the north-east of the country, causing more death and destruction.
Vladimir Putin’s actions comes just hours after President Donald Trump issued a crippling threat telling him to stop “pounding” Ukraine.
Footage showed the hellish carnage in Dobropillia as the strikes destroyed eight five-story buildings, an administrative building and 30 cars.
Putin pummelled the city with ballistic missiles, numerous rockets and drones, officials have said.
Another nine people were killed across Donetsk region, in Pokrovsk, Konstantinopol, Yablunivka, Konstantinovka, Myrnograd and Ivanopillya, as well as Dobropillia.
A total of 42 were wounded in the region, said the administration of Ukrainian controlled territory.
Fires raged in Dobropillia’s buildings hampering rescue efforts for people trapped in the rubble.
Ukrainian intelligence states the dead were civilians.
Preliminary reports say the Russians used an Iskander-M missile, Tornado-S MRLS, and Shahed 136 killer drones.
Governor of the region Vadym Filashkin urged remaining residents of the mining town – some 12 miles from the frontline – to flee to safer regions.
Dobropillia is geographically close to the rare metals deposits that Trump is seeking to get rights to exploit from President Volodymyr Zelensky, as Russia seeks territorial gains in the Donbas.
Yet the White House’s policies are making it harder for Ukraine to hold this territory.
At least seven others were injured in the attack that struck a meat processing plant was in Bogodukhiv.
“The death toll has risen to three. All are civilian men,” he said.
Putin also staged an attack on civilian and industrial facilities in Odesa, triggering fires.
A video showed the horrific moment a Russian drone hit a car in Odessa, a strike which the driver miraculously survived.
The onslaught came as Trump’s blocking of Ukraine receiving intelligence data triggers fears of missile strikes from Russia without warning.
Trump has also effectively grounded Ukraine’s Western-supplied long range missiles by refusing to supply key mapping data needed for targeting.
So far, Putin has shown no sign of desiring quick peace, which Trump claims the Kremlin dictator wants and needs.
Volodymyr Zelensky – who is due in Saudi Arabia on Monday where Ukraine will start talks of a peace deal with the Americans – hit out at the latest Russian aggression.
“Such strikes show that Russia’s goals are unchanged,” he said.
“It is very important to continue to do everything to protect life, strengthen our air defence, and tighten sanctions against Russia.
“Everything that helps Putin finance the war must break down.”
A separate Russian drone strike on Kharkiv region killed three, said Oleg Sinegubov, head of the regional military administration.
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