KYIV, March 19 – Ukraine and Russia launched a fresh wave of attacks overnight, just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone call discussing a possible ceasefire. While Putin agreed to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, he rejected a broader 30-day truce proposed by the U.S. and accepted by Ukraine.
The White House announced that Russia’s limited pause on targeting energy sites would take effect immediately, with further negotiations planned for Sunday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, according to U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Russia Bombards Ukrainian Cities
Despite the temporary agreement, Russia launched a massive aerial assault overnight, attacking Ukraine with 145 drones, two ballistic missiles, and four anti-aircraft missiles, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. The strikes targeted Sumy, Odesa, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, and Chernihiv regions. Ukrainian forces managed to shoot down 72 drones, but several civilian targets were hit.
A hospital in Sumy and a power station supplying railways in Dnipropetrovsk were among the key sites damaged, officials reported. Although parts of Ukraine’s railway system lost power, train services continued as scheduled, according to Ukrzaliznytsya, the state railway operator.
At least one person was killed and 14 others injured in the attacks, based on casualty figures shared by Ukrainian officials.
Zelensky Condemns Russian Escalation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced the overnight strikes, emphasizing that Russia’s relentless assaults on civilian infrastructure undermine any serious peace efforts.
“These nighttime attacks are destroying our energy sector, our infrastructure, and the daily lives of Ukrainians. The fact that this night was no exception proves that the world must continue putting pressure on Russia,” Zelensky said on Telegram.
Ukraine Strikes Back
Russia also faced aerial attacks from Ukraine, with Moscow’s Defense Ministry reporting that it had intercepted 57 Ukrainian drones overnight. The majority—35 drones—were shot down over the Kursk border region, while others targeted strategic locations.
In Krasnodar, a Ukrainian drone strike ignited a fire at an oil depot near the village of Kavkazskaya, according to Russian officials. Over 200 emergency personnel were deployed to extinguish the blaze.
Trump-Putin Call and Ceasefire Talks
Putin’s halt on energy infrastructure attacks came after his lengthy discussion with Trump on Tuesday. The Kremlin confirmed that Putin immediately ordered the Russian military to comply, but the Russian leader rejected a broader ceasefire unless Ukraine met several strict conditions.
Among Russia’s demands for a truce:
- A complete halt to all foreign military aid and intelligence support for Kyiv
- A suspension of Ukraine’s military mobilization and rearmament efforts
Zelensky, while welcoming the pause in energy strikes, expressed skepticism about Russia’s true intentions. He also called for direct communication with Trump to gain more insight into the ceasefire discussions.
“Putin has essentially rejected a comprehensive ceasefire. The world must not allow him to prolong this war,” Zelensky stated.
Prisoner Swap Planned for Wednesday
Amid the ongoing hostilities, both sides have agreed to a prisoner exchange on Wednesday, with 175 detainees expected to be swapped. The Kremlin confirmed that 23 seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers would be part of the exchange.
As tensions remain high, all eyes are on the upcoming ceasefire negotiations in Jeddah, where U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian officials will attempt to break the deadlock.
