U.S. citizens were among the survivors of a Russian missile strike that hit a Ukrainian hotel, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On Wednesday evening, a Russian ballistic missile struck a hotel in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown, Kryvyi Rih, during an attack that killed four people and injured more than 30 others, per the foreign ministry.
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Zelensky revealed early Thursday that U.S. volunteers with a humanitarian aid organization were among those staying at the hotel when the strikes hit. They evacuated safely after managing to escape from their hotel rooms.
“A ballistic missile struck an ordinary hotel,” Zelensky said in a post on X showing a video of the evacuation. “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.”
Karol Swiacki, founder of the charity Ukraine Relief, told BBC News he was in the hotel with two Americans when the missiles hit.
“We took two steps and there was a big boom, absolute nightmare, everything just within seconds changed,” Swiacki said “… We are all safe, we didn’t have a scratch, it is incredible. … We still don’t know how we survived this, honestly.”
This week, President Donald Trump paused U.S. intelligence sharing with and military aid to Ukraine amid a disagreement with Zelensky over what a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine should entail.
Since Trump and Zelensky’s Oval Office spat over the matter last week, the Ukrainian president has warmed up to the White House’s approach to a peace deal.
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Trump said Tuesday in his address to Congress that he appreciated Zelensky’s new willingness to come to the table with the U.S.
“I appreciate that he sent this letter, just got it a little while ago,” Trump said. “Simultaneously, we’ve had serious discussion with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace. Wouldn’t that be beautiful?”