Drone and missile strikes hit Ukraine after Washington talks

Russia launched a broad drone and missile assault on Ukraine hours after Zelenskyy met with US and European leaders to discuss security guarantees.

Drone and missile strikes hit Ukraine after Washington talks

On August 19 Russia unleashed 270 drones and 10 missiles against Ukraine, hitting multiple regions including Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Ukrainian officials say 15 people were killed and at least 76 wounded as shelling swept across the country. The Poltava region faced heavy power outages affecting more than 1,500 residents, while Chernihiv saw drones damage infrastructure and disrupt electricity.
In Washington, Zelenskyy held talks with US President Trump and European leaders about security guarantees for Kyiv, but no detailed framework emerged. Officials described a potential weapons package worth about 90 billion dollars, yet concrete plans were not published. The Kremlin signaled higher level contacts but did not name the leaders involved. Meanwhile, the United Nations rights monitoring mission warned that civilian casualties are rising amid intense frontline fighting, highlighting the toll on hospitals, schools and homes.

Russia shows it can strike decisively even as diplomacy unfolds. The episode tests how much weight Western security guarantees carry when combat continues on the ground. The talks in Washington reveal a gap between grand promises and on the ground realities Ukrainians face daily, including energy disruptions and civilian harm. The international community now weighs accountability, resilience and the speed at which aid and guarantees translate into real protection for civilians. The civilian toll underscores why any deal must be more than rhetoric and require clear, enforceable protections.

Highlights

The road to a durable peace remains difficult and uncertain.