Putin launches missile strike on Zelensky’s hometown after US halts military aid
Vladimir Putin unleashed a missile on Volodymyr Zelensky’s home some 24 hours after US military aid and intelligence was halted.
Russian weapons rained down on the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, in the Dnipropetrovsk region, late on Wednesday.
One smashed into a hotel where Ukrainian, British and US volunteers from a humanitarian organisation had just checked into.
Four people were killed and another 29 wounded, including a young child.
At least 20 victims are understood to be in ‘serious conditions’ and fighting for their lives in hospital.
Ukraine’s Emergency Services said on Telegram that 14 people had been rescued from the rubble at the hotel, which suffered heavy damage.

President Zelensky said: ‘Just before the strike, volunteers from one of the humanitarian organisations checked into the hotel – citizens of Ukraine, the US, and Britain.
‘They survived as they managed to get out of their rooms. Unfortunately, four people were killed by this strike.’
He did not clarify if any of the victims are foreign citizens.
This comes as CIA director John Ratcliffe confirmed on Wednesday that US intelligence-sharing, alongside weapons, had been paused, pressuring Zelensky to cooperate with the Trump administration.
Experts have long warned that such suspension will cost lives by hurting Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russian ballistic missile.

Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city’s military administration, said rescue operations proceeded through the night.
Crews made their way through piles of concrete outside the floodlit five-storey building as they clambered up and down ladders.
Smoke billowed from the top of the hotel and virtually all its windows had been blown out. A crane was deployed to reach upper levels.
Kryvyi Rih, the hometown of Zelensky, remains a frequent target of Russian missile attacks.
With a population of 660,000, it is the second-largest city in the region and it is located about 40 miles northwest of the nearest frontline.