Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has renewed his appeal for stronger international sanctions on Russia after fresh drone strikes injured eight people in the central Dnipro region.
In a statement on Thursday, Zelensky said that Russian forces launched 135 attack drones overnight, hitting several regions across Ukraine, including Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv.
The strikes caused damage to residential buildings and railway infrastructure in Kamianske. Emergency crews acted swiftly, rescuing five people trapped under debris.
“It was another turbulent night for Ukraine,” Zelensky said. “The fact that the Russians continue targeting energy facilities and civilians shows once again that the pressure is still insufficient.”
The Ukrainian leader called on the United States, Europe, and the G7 to strengthen sanctions and tariffs on Russia’s energy sector and financial activities.
He also urged them to act quickly in using Moscow’s frozen assets to support Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction efforts.
“It is only fair that the aggressor’s money be used to protect against its war,” Zelensky added.
The attacks come as the war enters its third year with no signs of an immediate ceasefire. The conflict began on February 24, 2022, when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion, claiming it was necessary to “demilitarise and denazify” Ukraine.
Moscow has said its goal is to stop Ukraine from joining NATO and to protect Russian-speaking populations in the east.
Kyiv and Western nations reject these claims, calling the invasion an unprovoked attempt to reclaim influence over its neighbour.
The war has led to tens of thousands of deaths, displaced millions of people, and caused widespread damage to Ukraine’s economy and infrastructure.
It has also disrupted global food and energy supplies, affecting countries in Africa that rely heavily on Ukrainian grain and Russian fertilisers.
