Kyiv Reels from Record Drone Assault as Putin Dismisses Trump's Peace Efforts

In a night that saw unprecedented air attacks, Kyiv is left grappling with the aftermath of significant drone and missile strikes amid diplomatic tensions.

Kyiv was enveloped in acrid smoke early Friday after a night marked by relentless Russian drone strikes, which reportedly set a record with 550 drones and 11 missiles fired at key locations across the capital. The Ukrainian military reported that 72 drones managed to breach air defenses, intensifying the sense of urgency as explosions rocked the city. This surge of violence coincided with a phone call between former US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which Trump expressed disappointment over Putin's unwillingness to pursue peace in Ukraine.

The barrage of strikes left at least 23 individuals injured and has drawn harsh condemnation from Ukrainian officials, who labeled it one of the worst nights for the city amid ongoing hostilities. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for immediate and severe sanctions against Moscow, suggesting that Putin's timing was a deliberate provocation. The air force noted that the latest attacks are part of a disturbing trend in which Russian airstrikes have escalated as diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire have stalled.

Meanwhile, a tragic incident in Russia was reported, where a woman was killed by a Ukrainian drone attack in the Rostov region, not far from the border. This further highlights the conflict's escalating toll on both sides.

As discussions on military support intensified, Zelensky was poised to speak with Trump about US weapons supplies, following reports of a pause in critical shipments. The Ukrainian president fears that such delays could severely hinder their defense against Russian advances. Trump, while asserting that weapons were still being supplied, criticized former President Biden for allegedly depleting military resources.

The war, now in its third year since Russia's full-scale invasion was launched in February 2022, shows little sign of abating as both sides brace for continued conflict.