Ukraine has suffered its most devastating aerial assault since the start of the war, as President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that 728 drones and 13 cruise or ballistic missiles targeted cities across the country in a massive overnight bombardment.
The assault, which hit key urban centers including Lutsk, Lviv, and Rivne, occurred amid renewed international attention on the conflict, particularly from Washington, where U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin and pledged new military support for Kyiv.
“This telling attack comes at a time when so many efforts are being made to achieve peace,” Zelensky said on Wednesday. “Yet Russia rebuffs every one of them.”
Lutsk, located near the Polish border and a vital hub for military and humanitarian aid, bore the brunt of the assault, while explosions were reported in other western regions. Meanwhile, Russia reported a Ukrainian drone strike on the Kursk region, killing three and injuring seven, including a five-year-old boy who later succumbed to his injuries.
The massive aerial attack came hours after President Trump reversed a recent suspension of U.S. military aid to Ukraine, a move he claimed he was unaware of, despite the decision reportedly being authorized by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Undersecretary Elbridge Colby.
“We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin,” Trump told reporters in Washington on Tuesday. “He’s nice to us, but it turns out to be meaningless.” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov downplayed the remarks, saying, “Trump’s way of talking is generally quite harsh.”
The Trump administration now appears poised to send 10 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, an essential component of Kyiv’s air defense system, especially amid intensifying drone and missile barrages.
Trump also said he is considering a proposed sanctions bill by Senator Lindsey Graham that would impose 500% tariffs on countries trading with Russia, a significant policy shift after months of hesitation. Though Trump had previously cited the high costs of sanctions, he admitted last week that he and Putin had discussed them “a lot,” adding, “He understands it may be coming.”
Despite past assertions that he could end the war in a day, Trump’s direct contact with Putin has not yet resulted in any breakthrough. Two earlier ceasefire negotiations this year yielded no agreements, and no new talks are currently scheduled.
Zelensky, who is currently in Rome for the Ukraine Recovery Conference, met with Pope Leo and is expected to hold discussions with U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg and several European leaders. German Chancellor Friederich Merz declared that diplomacy has reached its limits and promised additional air defense support to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russia’s offensive in eastern Ukraine presses on. “Each new day the Ukrainians have to accept the new realities,” Peskov said, affirming Moscow’s continued advance.
Written By Rodney Mbua
