Vladimir Putin sends clear signal to Donald Trump with 'horrifying' Ukraine missile strike

Vladimir Putin has rained hell on Ukraine once more in a clear signal to Donald Trump, days after the US President met first with Putin and then with Zelensky and other world leaders. In chilling footage shared by former Ukrainian interior ministry adviser Anton Geraschenko on X, a missile detonates on a residential building in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, sending debris into the air as terrified residents flee.

Mr Geraschenko described it as "the horrifying moment of Russia's targeted attack on a residential building in Kostiantynivka," a stark reminder of the human cost of the ongoing conflict. Local authorities report that Russian forces launched multiple strikes on Kostiantynivka in the early hours of Friday morning.

In a second post, he added: "Russia attacked Kostiantynivka with FAB bombs and FPV drones. 21 residential buildings, 5 administrative buildings, a mall, infrastructure object, gas pipelines and other objects damaged."

Serhii Horbunov, Head of the Kostiantynivka Town Military Administration, stated that the attacks injured one civilian and caused extensive damage to homes, apartment buildings, a shop, the local Ukrposhta building, and the city's gas distribution system.

The strikes made restoring gas supply impossible due to breaches in pipelines and safety risks for emergency personnel, reported the UKR Inform website.

The attacks follow a series of recent strikes. On August 21, Russian forces injured two residents in the Donetsk region, and earlier attacks had killed two civilians and injured 14 others, according to Mr Horbunov. Russian forces reportedly used strike FPV drones and FAB-250 aerial bombs, targeting densely populated residential areas and causing widespread damage.

Eyewitnesses report chaotic scenes as residents fled the explosions, with families, children, and the elderly forced to seek safety amid the destruction. Emergency services were hampered by damaged roads and ongoing shelling, leaving civilians vulnerable and prolonging the disruption of essential services.

Mr Geraschenko's footage has drawn attention for capturing the instant of impact, providing a grim visual record of the strikes and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.

Mr Horbunov has urged residents to prioritise their safety and evacuate, warning that the city remains under threat from continued Russian attacks.

The missile strike comes amid a period of high-profile international diplomacy. Just days earlier, US President Donald Trump had met with Putin in Alaska and then with Mr Zelensky and other world leaders at the White House.

The attacks in Kostiantynivka underscore that, while leaders negotiate and discuss policy, civilians on the ground continue to face the immediate and terrifying realities of war.