KYIV, Ukraine — A deadly wave of drone strikes shook Ukraine on Thursday, killing at least nine people just hours after the country signed a major agreement with the United States granting American access to its vast mineral resources. The timing of the attacks underscored the volatile backdrop against which the high-stakes deal was reached.
In southern Ukraine’s partially occupied Kherson region, a Ukrainian drone strike on the Russian-controlled town of Oleshky killed seven people and wounded over 20, according to Moscow-appointed Governor Vladimir Saldo. “After the first wave of strikes, Ukraine sent further drones to ‘finish off’ any survivors,” Saldo alleged on Telegram.
Meanwhile, a Russian drone assault on the Black Sea port city of Odesa killed two and injured 15 others. The strike hit residential buildings, a school, and a supermarket, regional governor Oleh Kiper confirmed. Videos showed shattered facades, scorched storefronts, and emergency crews battling blazes. In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, another drone set a petrol station ablaze in a separate strike, local authorities said.
A “Truly Historic” Minerals Agreement
Despite the violence, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the newly signed U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal as “truly historic.” The agreement, finalized Wednesday and presented as the first concrete outcome of Zelenskyy’s recent meeting with President Donald Trump at the Vatican during the Pope’s funeral, grants U.S. firms access to Ukraine’s critical mineral wealth. These include rare earth elements, lithium, and other materials essential to defense and energy technologies.
“This is working together with America on fair terms,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly address. “Both Ukraine and the United States can benefit through partnership, without owing anything from past military aid.”
The deal is set to be ratified by Ukraine’s parliament in the coming days. Zelenskyy emphasized that the agreement positions Ukraine as a key player in global energy security while attracting foreign investment to bolster its postwar economy.
Mixed Reactions in Kyiv
Public reaction in Kyiv was divided. Some welcomed the deal as a potential turning point. “I still believe that any action that brings us closer to victory is worth it,” said Diana Abramova, attending a rally for missing soldiers.
Others expressed skepticism. “I feel like we are selling our land in exchange for protection we should have built ourselves,” said Kyiv resident Iryna Vasylevska. “Instead of strengthening our own capacity, we give away our resources.”
Former Economy Minister Tymofiy Mylovanov, now president of the Kyiv School of Economics, defended the deal, calling it a “political and diplomatic win” for Ukraine. He stressed that the agreement ensures Ukraine can continue selling to other countries and doesn’t grant exclusive rights to U.S. buyers.
Moscow’s Response: “A Disappearing Country”
Russian officials were quick to denounce the agreement. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chair of Russia’s National Security Council, accused Trump of forcing Ukraine to “pay” for military aid with its mineral wealth. “Now military supplies will have to be paid for with the national wealth of a disappearing country,” he wrote on Telegram.
Vladimir Rogov, a pro-Kremlin figure, likened the deal to “legally prescribed slavery,” claiming it formalized Western exploitation of Ukrainian sovereignty.
Ceasefire Ignored
Zelenskyy accused Russia of ignoring a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal that had been on the table for over 50 days. “Our offers included halting attacks on civilian infrastructure and silence on land, sea, and in the air. Russia answered with bombs,” he said.
As Ukraine moves forward with the minerals agreement, the twin realities of war and economic rebuilding remain tightly intertwined. Whether the deal will strengthen Ukraine’s position or deepen international entanglements is now the subject of fierce debate — both at home and abroad.
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