Russia unleashed a ferocious wave of aerial attacks against Ukraine on Friday, launching a barrage of drones and missiles in what Ukrainian officials say was the most extensive assault since the war began nearly three years ago. The strikes came shortly after President Trump voiced frustration over his recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he was “disappointed.”
Ukraine’s air force reported that a staggering 539 drones and 11 missiles were fired at the capital, Kyiv, over a span of seven hours. The assault injured at least 23 people and caused widespread destruction across the city, with numerous residential buildings and infrastructure damaged.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is expected to speak with Trump later on Friday regarding the ongoing conflict, denounced the onslaught as “deliberately massive and cynical.”
“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,” Zelensky posted on X.
“Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” he added, urging the international community to ramp up efforts to pressure Moscow into changing its “dumb, destructive behavior.”
As the drone and missile attack raged, loud explosions lit up the night sky and echoed across Kyiv. Sirens wailed through the streets, prompting people to flee to safety, including into metro stations, as seen in videos widely shared online.
According to city officials, the strikes caused destruction in six of the city’s ten districts. Approximately 40 apartment buildings were hit, along with passenger rail infrastructure, schools, kindergartens, cafes, and vehicles.
“What Kyiv endured last night, cannot be called anything but a deliberate act of terror,” wrote Ukraine’s Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko on X.
“Absolutely horrible and sleepless night in Kyiv,” added Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. “One of the worst so far.”
Russian strikes on Kyiv have intensified significantly in recent weeks, with several of the attacks being among the deadliest in the entire conflict.
The latest barrage followed Trump’s statement that his conversation with Putin the day before had produced no movement toward peace.
“I’m very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin, because I don’t think he’s there,” Trump told reporters. “I’m just saying I don’t think he’s looking to stop, and that’s too bad.”
“I didn’t make any progress with him at all,” he added.
{Matzav.com}