RUSSIAN BOMBS KILL CHILDREN IN UKRAINE AS TRUMP’S DIESEL DEAL WITH PUTIN FUELS DIPLOMATIC FURY
October 10, 2026
At least 11 people, including three children, were killed in Russian airstrikes on residential buildings in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region on Saturday, intensifying concerns over civilian casualties as a controversial diesel supply agreement between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin triggered a sharp reaction from Kyiv.
The attacks also wounded at least 16 people, according to Ukrainian regional officials. Mykhailo Semikin, head of the regional military administration, confirmed the fatalities, while Ivan Fedorov, co-chair of the region’s defence council, reported the number of injured. The latest bombardment came amid an intensifying aerial conflict, with Russian and Ukrainian forces continuing long-range attacks despite a largely deadlocked front line.
More than 60 people have reportedly been killed in Russian bombardments across Ukraine over the preceding four days, highlighting the mounting civilian toll of the conflict. Ukraine has struggled to counter the intensifying attacks as Russian forces continue using aerial weapons against targets across the country.
The deadly strikes occurred a day after Trump announced an agreement under which Russia would supply diesel to the United States. The proposed deliveries include more than 300,000 tonnes immediately, another 500,000 tonnes in November, one million tonnes shortly afterwards and a further three million tonnes within a relatively short period. Trump presented the arrangement as a response to high fuel prices in the United States, where the administration faces mounting economic pressure ahead of the November midterm elections.
The agreement marks a striking shift in Washington’s approach to Moscow. Trump signed sweeping sanctions legislation last month intended to restrict Russian oil and gas revenues that help finance the war against Ukraine. The new diesel arrangement has consequently raised questions about the consistency of US policy, particularly as Ukraine continues to endure Russian attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly criticised the agreement, warning that Russia would respond with further violence and deception. In a lengthy online statement, he argued that providing Moscow with additional energy revenue would help it sustain its military campaign, inflict greater damage and prolong the war. The Ukrainian Embassy in Washington described Zelensky’s assessment as a response to what he considered a weak decision by powerful partners.
Zelensky also questioned the timing of Trump’s announcement because the US president’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were meeting Ukrainian officials in Miami to discuss a proposal for ending the war. He expressed concern that the Ukrainian delegation was being used as a “smoke screen” while Washington pursued a separate arrangement with Moscow, adding that this was not how partners should treat one another.
Trump had reportedly been expected to discuss a suspected case of plague in Russia during his telephone conversation with Putin. Instead, the US president announced the diesel agreement, bringing an immediate shift in attention towards energy supplies, economic considerations and the broader diplomatic implications for the war.
The juxtaposition of lethal Russian attacks and Washington’s decision to facilitate Russian diesel supplies has intensified the tension between the United States’ domestic economic priorities and its stated objective of pressuring Moscow over the invasion of Ukraine. For Kyiv, the immediate concern is that additional Russian energy revenue could strengthen the Kremlin’s capacity to continue military operations while diplomatic efforts to secure an end to the conflict remain uncertain.
