Fifteen individuals, including American citizens, lost their lives in recent Russian drone and missile strikes in Kyiv, as confirmed by State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Bruce stated, “We can confirm the death of a US citizen in Ukraine,” while addressing inquiries about the US diplomatic presence in Kyiv, mentioning, “We have to spend the night in the bunker.” She noted that the attacks on Kyiv resulted in numerous casualties, highlighting the heartbreaking loss of American lives.
However, she opted not to disclose details about the deceased citizens, emphasizing the need to “respect for their families during this clearly terrifying time.”
In a related note, Bruce pointed out, “The recent president has made his thoughts clear about attacking private areas in that regard,” reiterating that every aspect of their work prioritizes the safety and security of American citizens abroad. She added that the State Department is prepared to provide necessary consular assistance.
According to reports, fifteen people died, and 156 were injured due to nearly nine hours of Russian shelling in Kyiv. Russia allegedly launched over 440 drones and 32 missiles, marking this attack as one of the deadliest in the capital this year.
Ukrainian President Voldimia Zelensky mentioned on social media that six other regions were also affected during this assault, specifically naming Odesa, Zaporidia, Chernichv, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad, and Mykolai.
This situation unfolded while world leaders gathered in Canada for the G7 Summit. President Donald Trump attended part of the summit but left early to address tensions related to the Iran-Israel conflict.
Trump criticized former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for “a very big mistake” made in 2014 when Russia was excluded from the G8 summit, claiming that it had prevented further wars between Russia and Ukraine. He remarked, “The G7 was once a G8. No one named Barack Obama and Trudeau wanted to have Russia,” during a session with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
In his perspective, if Russia had remained part of the group, “I don’t think there would be any war right now. And if I were president four years ago, you wouldn’t be facing a war now.” Yet, here we are, with the G8 no longer in play.
Meanwhile, the White House continues to discuss potential amendments to a sanctions bill targeting Russia, preferring to manage it through Congress rather than administrative channels. Trump seems increasingly doubtful about Putin’s willingness to resolve the ongoing war, and sources indicate that discussions about the bill are ongoing with no definitive timelines established.
Despite ongoing conflict, Trump has pushed for peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, although the situation has deteriorated for President Putin, who appears resistant to ending the crisis.
