Kyiv: Ukraine said on Thursday that at least 15 people were injured due to an overnight Russian airstrike on a US-owned enterprise in the country's Zakarpattia region. A statement by Ukraine's State Emergency Service on Telegram indicated that the strike in the westernmost region targeted an industrial facility in the city of Mukachevo, leading to a large-scale fire that spread over an area of approximately 7,000 square meters (75,347 square feet).

According to Anadolu Agency, Ukraine's Air Force reported on Telegram that its air defenses intercepted 546 out of 574 drones and 31 out of 40 missiles launched by Russia overnight. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking through the US social media platform X, condemned the attack as targeting civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, and civilians. He highlighted that the American-owned enterprise, which produces everyday items like coffee machines, was a specific target, underscoring the enterprise's status as a civilian business supported by American investment.

Zelenskyy argued that such attacks necessitate a response, emphasizing the lack of genuine engagement from Moscow in negotiations to end the ongoing conflict. In contrast, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed responsibility for the strike, stating it targeted Ukrainian defense industry enterprises, power facilities, military airfields, and missile system positions.

The incident coincides with diplomatic efforts by US President Donald Trump to mediate a resolution to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which has persisted for nearly three and a half years. These efforts included a recent summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska and a subsequent meeting in the Oval Office involving Trump, Zelenskyy, and European leaders.