Moscow, Aug 13 – Russia on Wednesday accused Ukraine of intensifying attacks in the run-up to the August 15 meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
In a statement on X, the Russian Foreign Ministry claimed that 22 people were killed and 105 injured over the past week due to Ukrainian shelling and drone strikes. “With the Russia-U.S. summit approaching, the Kyiv regime has stepped up its terrorist activity against Russian regions,” said Deputy Spokesperson Alexei Fadeev.
Earlier, the Russian Defence Ministry alleged that Ukraine was preparing a “provocation” to disrupt the upcoming talks. It claimed Ukrainian security services had sent foreign journalists to Kharkiv’s Chuguev under the guise of frontline reporting, intending to stage attacks on residential areas or hospitals and blame them on Russia. The ministry asserted such an incident would be used to tarnish Russia’s image and undermine negotiations.
The Defence Ministry further reported that Russian forces had liberated Suvorovo and Nikanorovka in Donetsk in the past 24 hours. Russian air defence systems allegedly intercepted 240 Ukrainian drones, nine aerial bombs, and four HIMARS projectiles in a single day, while targeting Ukrainian positions in 136 districts.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of preparing for new offensive operations rather than ending the war. He expressed support for Trump’s diplomatic efforts but urged the international community to maintain unity and prevent Russia from “deceiving the world.”
Zelensky stressed that decisions on Ukraine’s security must strengthen joint defence capabilities and that Russia must face accountability if it refuses to halt hostilities. “Peace through strength,” he wrote on X, calling for continued global pressure through sanctions, military support, and diplomacy until the war and occupation end.
