NewsNation’s Robert Sherman brings you a special report, “Ukraine: On the Frontlines,” on Saturday, Aug. 9, examining the country’s years-long effort to stave off Russian aggression. The one-hour program will air 8p/7C. Not sure how to find NewsNation on your TV? Use our Channel Finder.
(NewsNation) — Russia and Ukraine traded attacks overnight as President Donald Trump’s deadline for Moscow to reach a ceasefire draws near.
Trump has threatened Russia with sanctions if it fails to make a deal by Aug. 8, but the threats have done little to curb violence in the region.
The mayor of Lozova, near Kharkiv in the northeast, said Russia launched a large-scale drone attack at his city overnight — hitting infrastructure and residential areas, according to reports. At least one person was killed and several were injured, including children.
Local officials called it the most intense attack the city has seen since the invasion.
Ukraine launched a drone attack of its own near the southern Russian city of Rostov, striking a power substation and a railway, Reuters reported. That railway serves as a logistics hub in southern Russia for transporting grain and oil.
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff to travel to Russia
As the fighting continues, a last-ditch effort at diplomacy is scheduled. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow on Wednesday, according to state news agency TASS.
While Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to acknowledge the Friday deadline set by Trump, the Kremlin said it welcomes all dialogue with Witkoff.
Six months into Trump’s term, the war in Ukraine — which he promised to end within hours of retaking the Oval Office — is an everyday reality for residents in the region.
“Words are one thing and actions are another, and maybe, just maybe, Trump is able to do something completely different from what he’s doing today,” Sofia Panchenko, of Kyiv, told NewsNation. “So, he is such an unpredictable person that anything can happen.”
“I think that’s exactly what all of the Ukraine is thinking. Biden was very understandable but basically without much action,” she added.
Russia scraps self-imposed moratorium on some missiles
The latest attacks came hours before Russia declared itself no longer bound to its self-imposed moratorium on nuclear-capable intermediate-range missiles.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry connected the decision with America’s own efforts to develop and deploy intermediate-range weapons in Europe, saying the moves create “destabilizing missile potentials” in the region.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.