KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Kyiv faced its largest aerial assault since the onset of Russia's invasion over three years ago, with waves of drones and missiles targeting the city overnight. This aggressive onslaught, reported on Friday, has coincided with a renewed Russian offensive to seize additional territory in Ukraine.
The nighttime barrage resulted in one death and injured at least 26 people, including a child. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described a "very important and productive" phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump shortly after the attacks. In this conversation, they explored potential enhancements to Ukrainian air defenses, the feasibility of joint weapons production between the U.S. and Ukraine, and broad U.S.-led initiatives aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict with Russia.
During a press briefing, Trump stated, "We had a very good call, I think," but was non-committal when questioned about the possibility of ending hostilities, responding, "I don’t know." The U.S. has recently paused some military aid shipments, including essential air defense missiles, prompting Ukrainian leaders to consider ways European allies can help fill that gap. Plans to strengthen Ukraine's domestic arms industry are in place, though it will take time to realize these objectives.
The seven-hour bombing campaign resulted in extensive damage throughout various districts of Kyiv. Explosions illuminated the sky, and the city's emergency services were deployed to assist. "It was a harsh, sleepless night," Zelenskyy remarked, emphasizing the increasing Russian strategy of long-range assaults on cities. Just days prior, Russia also executed the largest aerial attack of the war to date.
In total, Russia launched 550 drones and missiles during this particular night, according to the Ukrainian air force. While the majority were identified as Shahed drones, the attacks included 11 missiles as well. Aliya Shahlai, a wedding photographer from Kyiv, shared her traumatic experience: "We were all in the shelter because it was so loud; staying home would have been suicidal." After taking shelter moments before an explosion, she recounted the fear and chaos that ensued.
As emergency response teams worked diligently, they reported that five ambulances were damaged in the line of duty, and over 300 tons of debris were cleared. Zelenskyy's call with Trump involved discussing not only military cooperation but also opportunities for direct joint projects, especially in drone technology. Despite efforts, peace talks have yielded minimal results thus far, often leading only to sporadic exchanges of prisoners between the conflicting sides.
The dual circumstance of Russian aerial threats and calls with global leaders took a notable turn when Trump admitted he was disappointed with the lack of progress during his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Reflecting on his conversation, Trump stated, "I’m very disappointed... I don’t think he’s looking to stop [the fighting], and that’s too bad." Meanwhile, Putin’s representative reaffirmed Russia's commitment to achieving its objectives in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian military remains under severe pressure along the extensive front lines, with an alarming increase in drone assaults from Russia, which reportedly launched a record 5,438 drones in just one month. Ukrainian officials expressed urgency, with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha describing the cozy chaos of the nighttime attacks as “absolutely horrible.”
In addition to Kyiv, surrounding regions like Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv sustained damage during the coordinated attacks. Zelenskyy characterized the attack as "cynical," while Russia claimed their strike targeted facilities involved in military production. Ukraine's defenses managed to neutralize numerous incoming threats during the night, shooting down 270 aerial targets while sustaining significant collateral damage across multiple districts.
With the situation remaining volatile, the resilience of the Ukrainian forces and the support from international allies are vital as they navigate through this ongoing conflict.
