British and American volunteers narrowly escaped a deadly Russian missile strike on a hotel in Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The attack, which occurred on Wednesday night, left four people dead and over 30 wounded.
Zelensky confirmed that British and US volunteers from a humanitarian organization had been staying at the hotel when the strike happened. In a statement on his Telegram channel, he said the volunteers managed to escape in time by leaving their rooms before the missiles hit. However, the attack caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, and emergency teams continued working at the site through the night.
The missile strike came just hours after the United States announced a pause in intelligence-sharing with Ukraine. This decision has raised concerns among Western allies, with UK Defence Secretary John Healey expected to discuss the issue with his US counterpart in Washington. Talks will also cover possible steps toward peace and ways to ensure long-term security for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has warned of increasing threats from Russia. Speaking at a European Union summit in Brussels, he said he would consult allies on whether France’s nuclear deterrent should be used to protect Europe.
Diplomatic efforts are ongoing to address growing security concerns. There is speculation that Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Zelensky could meet with US President Joe Biden to discuss the situation. However, Downing Street has not confirmed any travel plans.
In a televised speech, Macron described Russia as a serious threat to France and Europe, reinforcing the urgency for coordinated action among Western nations.