Kyiv Endures Record Drone Assault as Putin Dismisses Trump’s Peace Overture

Kyiv faced a harrowing barrage of attacks overnight with a record 550 drones launched by Russia, amid escalating tensions following failed diplomatic efforts.

The Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, shrouded in acrid smoke, grapples with the aftermath of a relentless Russian assault that shattered records during the night, according to officials. Ukrainian air defenses struggled against 550 drones and 11 missiles as they bombarded nearly every district, marking a grim turning point in the conflict. The onslaught came just hours after a phone call between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which Trump expressed his disappointment in Putin's unwillingness to end the war.

Ukrainian authorities reported significant casualties, including one woman killed in a retaliatory strike in Russia’s Rostov region due to Ukrainian drone activity. It also confirmed a bleak record, stating that 72 out of the 550 drones launched by Russia evaded air defenses, surpassing the previous record of 537 drones the week before. The night was filled with the sounds of explosions and air raid sirens blaring for over eight hours, as Kyiv remained the focal point of the Russian strikes.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the attack as "one of the worst" nights in recent memory, emphasizing that the coordinated timing with Trump and Putin's call highlighted Putin's dismissive approach towards the U.S. He insisted that strict sanctions against Moscow were imperative.

The Ukrainian State Emergency Service released images showing the devastation in Kyiv, with extensive fires and infrastructure damage. Officials reported that at least 23 individuals sustained injuries during the strikes that damaged vital railway infrastructure and set both vehicles and buildings ablaze.

With Ukraine facing an intensification of Russian attacks over the past weeks amidst stalled ceasefire negotiations, the war has now entered its third year since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Trump's reflections post-call indicated frustration, admitting, “no progress” had been made towards ceasing hostilities, underscoring his belief that Putin is uninterested in ending the conflict. Meanwhile, the Kremlin reiterated its commitment to addressing what it terms "the root causes of the war." In the backdrop, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is pressing for discussions with Trump regarding U.S. weapon supplies, particularly in light of recent decisions in Washington to halt some military aid, which poses threats to Ukraine’s defensive capabilities against increasing Russian advances.

Trump responded to concerns over military support by asserting that the U.S. is still providing assistance, while criticizing his predecessor for depleting the nation's resources for Ukraine. The escalating conflict continues to raise alarms across the globe, as diplomatic avenues seem farther out of reach than ever.