Russia unleashed its most extensive missile and drone attack on Ukraine overnight, bombarding Kyiv with hundreds of drones in what officials describe as the biggest aerial assault since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Attack Follows Trump-Putin Phone Call
The massive airstrike began shortly after a high-profile phone conversation between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The timing of the attack has raised alarm in Ukraine, where many view it as a message from Moscow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the connection in a statement Friday morning.
“Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin,” Zelenskyy wrote. “Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror. Only around 9 a.m. today did the air raid alert end in Kyiv. It was a brutal, sleepless night.”
Over 500 Drones Unleashed on Capital
Throughout the night, residents of Kyiv endured wave after wave of drone strikes, with videos showing large fires and smoke engulfing the city skyline. Ukraine reported that Russia launched more than 500 drones in this assault, the second time in a week that such an unprecedented barrage has occurred.
Dozens Injured, Residents Shelter Underground
At least 23 people were injured during the attacks, according to Kyiv’s mayor. Many spent the night in underground metro stations, seeking safety from the relentless air raids.
Kyiv Awakens to Smoke and Devastation
As Friday dawned, thick smoke from fires still burning blanketed the Ukrainian capital. For residents, it was one of the most harrowing nights since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022.
Attack Coincides With U.S. Weapons Freeze
The onslaught also came days after the Trump administration suspended shipments of key air defense weapons to Ukraine, a move that Ukrainian officials have criticized as leaving them more vulnerable to Russian attacks.
For the latest on the deadly Russia-Ukraine war, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.