• Russian drone strikes in Kharkiv killed at least seven, including children.
• Zaporizhzhia missile attacks resulted in three fatalities and many injuries.
• Ukrainian President Zelenskyy condemned attacks as "demonstrative and cynical."

At least seven people, including young children, were killed in a Russian drone strike in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv as the country faces intensified hostilities. Authorities reported that among the victims were a toddler and her 16-year-old brother, bringing the total casualties across multiple attacks on August 18 to ten in various regions, including Zaporizhzhia, where additional strikes killed three more individuals and injured many others, according to ABC News and India Times.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned these attacks as “demonstrative and cynical,” emphasizing that such strikes were timed to coincide with his upcoming discussions in Washington with President Donald Trump and European leaders. Zelenskyy expressed his outrage by stating on social media that "the Russians are deliberately killing people, particularly children,” further confirming the deepening humanitarian crisis in affected regions, as highlighted by India Times and Channel News Asia.

In addition to the casualties, significant damage was reported in residential areas, with hundreds of civilians wounded. The Ukrainian air force noted that during the latest attacks, Russia had launched around 140 drones and four missiles across various regions, with many drones intercepted by defense systems. This escalation comes as Zelenskyy argues for clear security guarantees from the U.S. and expresses concerns about any peace discussions that might appease Russia, claiming it would only embolden further aggression, according to CBS News and ABC News.

The context of these attacks underlines the ongoing struggle in Ukraine to maintain its territorial integrity against a backdrop of international diplomatic efforts, revealing the complex interplay between wartime realities and negotiations for peace. Zelenskyy pointed out that "the Russian war machine continues to destroy lives" even as diplomatic negotiations are ongoing, indicating a critical point in the conflict as he prepares to travel to the U.S., as reported by Channel News Asia and India Times.