A hotel in Ukraine was hit by a Russian missile strike overnight, with U.S. citizens among those staying there, according to reports. The attack took place just a day after the Trump administration paused sharing intelligence with Ukraine, following pressure on Kyiv to negotiate peace with Russia. This strike also came shortly after Trump halted all military aid to Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shared the news on social media: “All night, a rescue operation continued in Kryvyi Rih at the site of a Russian missile strike,” he posted. “A ballistic missile struck an ordinary hotel. Just before the attack, volunteers from a humanitarian organization—citizens of Ukraine, the United States, and the United Kingdom—had checked into the hotel. They survived because they managed to get down from their rooms in time. Unfortunately, four people were killed in this attack. My condolences to their families and loved ones.”
Zelensky also posted a video showing emergency workers helping the injured in Kryvyi Rih, his hometown. Over 30 people were injured in the attack and are now receiving medical care. He mentioned that many nearby buildings were damaged and thanked the rescue teams working around the clock.
While Zelensky did not name the humanitarian organization involved, Karol Swiacki, who runs the UK charity Ukraine Relief, told the BBC he was staying at the hotel with two Americans when the strike happened. “We took two steps and there was a big boom, absolute nightmare, everything just within seconds changed… We are all safe, we didn’t have a scratch, it is incredible… we still don’t know how we survived this, honestly,” Swiacki said.
All night, a rescue operation continued in Kryvyi Rih at the site of a Russian missile strike. A ballistic missile struck an ordinary hotel. Just before the attack, volunteers from a humanitarian organization – citizens of Ukraine, the United States, and the United Kingdom – had… pic.twitter.com/XTfcRprBsE
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 6, 2025
Despite growing calls for peace, Russia’s attacks continue. Dmitry Medvedev, a senior Russian official, said that Russia’s goal remains to inflict maximum defeat on Ukraine.
President Donald Trump, who has expressed a desire to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, criticized the ongoing destruction, loss of life, and the financial burden on American taxpayers. U.S. military aid has been crucial to Ukraine’s defense, but the Trump administration froze both military assistance and intelligence sharing after a public argument between Zelensky, Trump, and Vice President JD Vance on February 28.
A key deal on critical minerals between the U.S. and Ukraine was supposed to be signed that day but has been delayed. Zelensky later wrote to Trump expressing his desire to repair their relationship and finalize the deal. Trump has said he is willing to move forward with it.
While Ukraine seeks security guarantees from the U.S. to protect it from further Russian attacks, the U.S. has said that such guarantees could come later, and economic cooperation will be enough for now.
Trump believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to peace talks. The two leaders have spoken several times in recent months. Zelensky, however, emphasized on social media that pressure on Russia to end the war must continue.
Ukrainian activist Serhii Sternenko posted: “Russia just wants peace. Trump is telling the truth. Russians are for peace. Here is the proof.”
Meanwhile, Medvedev said Russia’s military objectives remain clear, and defeating Ukraine on the battlefield is their primary goal. Trump, in his speech to Congress, called for an end to the violence: “It’s time to stop this madness. It’s time to halt the killing. It’s time to end this senseless war. If you want to end wars, you have to talk to both sides.”
Behind the scenes, talks continue in hopes of reaching at least a ceasefire, if not a full peace agreement, to end the war that has been raging since February 2022. It remains unclear how long it will take to stop the fighting, but Trump’s push for peace puts pressure on Ukraine, while European leaders struggle to find solutions to replace the support provided by the U.S. Ukrainians and their allies fear Russia now has the upper hand in any potential negotiations, especially with Trump’s strong focus on ending the war.
