Moscow, Aug 13 – Russia on Wednesday accused Ukraine of intensifying attacks in the lead-up to the August 15 meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The Russian Foreign Ministry said 22 people were killed and 105 injured in Ukrainian shelling and drone strikes over the past week. It claimed Kyiv had stepped up “terrorist activity” to disrupt the summit.
Russian Defence Ministry officials alleged Ukraine was planning a provocation by striking Kharkiv’s Chuguev and blaming Russia. They said foreign journalists had been sent to the city under the guise of reporting from the frontline, with the intent to document civilian casualties from Ukrainian-planned strikes.
According to the Russian Defence Ministry, Ukrainian forces plan to target a densely populated residential area or hospital shortly before the summit, ensuring Western media coverage that would hold Russia responsible. Moscow warned such an act would create a “negative media background” and jeopardise Russian-US cooperation on resolving the conflict.
Meanwhile, Russian forces reportedly captured the settlements of Suvorovo and Nikanorovka in Donetsk over the past 24 hours. Russia claimed its air defences intercepted 240 Ukrainian drones, nine aerial bombs, and four HIMARS projectiles, while targeting Ukrainian troops and foreign mercenaries in 136 districts.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia was preparing for new military operations rather than ending the war. He expressed support for Trump’s peace efforts but urged the international community to adopt positions that prevent Moscow from “deceiving the world.”
Zelensky thanked European leaders for supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and called for continued pressure on Russia through sanctions, diplomacy, and military strength, insisting that peace must come “through strength” while holding Russia accountable for ongoing aggression.
