Russia unleashed the largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, firing 728 drones and 13 missiles in a massive overnight attack early Wednesday. The Ukrainian air force reported it intercepted 711 drones and destroyed seven missiles, but at least one civilian was killed in the Khmelnytsky region.
The bombardment surpassed a previous record set just last week and primarily targeted western regions, including the town of Lutsk near the Polish border. Explosions and buzzing drones were heard over Kyiv, with air raid sirens sounding for hours.
Russia’s defence ministry claimed the strikes targeted military airfield infrastructure and asserted that all designated targets were destroyed, claims Ukraine has not confirmed.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as a “telling” move by Russia, occurring “precisely at a time when so many efforts have been made to achieve peace.” Speaking from Rome, where he met Pope Leo XIV during the Ukraine Recovery Conference, Zelensky called for intensified sanctions against Russia, especially in the energy sector, and urged greater pressure on countries allegedly supplying technology to Russia’s drone and missile programs.
Ukraine’s security services also announced the arrest of two Chinese nationals accused of attempting to smuggle missile technology out of the country, further complicating Kyiv’s accusations of Chinese involvement in supporting Russia’s war capabilities.
In Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump sharply criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of spreading “bullshit” and pledging to increase arms deliveries to Ukraine, reversing a previously announced suspension. Despite frequent communication between the two leaders, no breakthrough on a ceasefire has emerged, though prisoner exchanges have increased.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov downplayed Trump’s remarks, attributing them to his “harsh rhetorical style.”
On the battlefield, Russia continues to gain ground. The Kremlin announced the capture of Tolstoy village in Donetsk, a region it claims as part of Russia despite not having full control. Ukrainian officials confirmed that eight civilians were killed in Russian attacks in Donetsk, including two people burned alive in a car hit by a drone. A one-year-old boy was also killed in the Kherson region.
Meanwhile, Russia reported intercepting 86 Ukrainian drones over its western territories, suggesting both sides are intensifying aerial warfare amid a grinding conflict with no diplomatic resolution in sight.
Written By Rodney Mbua
