A wave of drone strikes over Kyiv early Friday morning has left the Ukrainian capital reeling, with officials reporting widespread damage and 23 people wounded. The barrage of 550 drones and 11 missiles came after a tense phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which Trump expressed disappointment over Putin’s reluctance to end the ongoing war in Ukraine.
As thick, acrid smoke hung in the air, Kyiv’s districts bore the brunt of Russia’s overnight onslaught, with fires engulfing buildings and vehicles while the city’s air defences struggled to intercept the relentless wave of attacks. Ukrainian air forces confirmed that 72 drones managed to breach the capital’s defences, setting a new record for Russian drone penetration, surpassing the previous record of 537 drones launched in a single night.
A Horrific Night in Kyiv
The night was described as one of the worst Kyiv has faced during the war, with air raid alerts ringing out for more than eight hours. Several waves of drone attacks targeted vital infrastructure, including railway lines, while buildings were damaged, and fires raged through residential areas.
“We had an absolutely horrible and sleepless night in Kyiv. One of the worst so far,” tweeted Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s acting governor. He suggested that the timing of the attack, coming shortly after Trump’s call with Putin, was a deliberate move by the Russian president to show his disregard for international calls for peace. “Putin does it on purpose,” Sybiha added.
Social media footage shared by Ukraine’s emergency services depicted firefighters battling the flames as rescuers worked to aid the wounded. The attack came on the heels of a stark message from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Yermak, who denounced the strikes as “one of the worst” for the city and called for the imposition of stronger sanctions against Moscow.
Record-Breaking Strikes
Russia’s attack on Kyiv comes as a continuation of escalating airstrikes that have become a feature of the ongoing war. Ukraine’s air force confirmed that the intensity of these strikes reached a new peak, with 72 drones breaking through Kyiv’s defences, signaling an unprecedented level of aggression by Moscow.
“Putin is clearly sending a message, demonstrating his disregard for the United States and everyone calling for peace,” Sybiha wrote on X, adding that Russia’s bombardment was a clear rejection of Trump’s ceasefire proposals.
Trump’s Disappointment
The timing of the strikes following the call between Trump and Putin further intensified the already strained diplomatic situation. Trump expressed his frustration after the conversation, saying, “I’m very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin, because I don’t think he’s there, and I’m very disappointed.” He added, “I’m just saying I don’t think he’s looking to stop, and that’s too bad.”
Despite Trump’s continued support for Ukraine’s defense, particularly in weapons supply, he suggested that the U.S. may have sent too many weapons to Ukraine, weakening U.S. defences in the process. “We’re giving weapons. We haven’t completely paused the flow of weapons,” Trump clarified, pointing fingers at former President Joe Biden for the increase in weapon shipments to Kyiv.
A War Without Resolution
The war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, shows no signs of abating. Russia has repeatedly stated its intent to eliminate what it calls the “root causes of the war”—a return of Ukraine to Russia’s sphere of influence, with Putin declaring recently that “the whole of Ukraine is ours.”
Amid the ongoing conflict, Kyiv remains on high alert, bracing for more Russian airstrikes, while international leaders continue to push for ceasefire negotiations. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky also expressed his concerns about the U.S. decision to halt certain weapons shipments to Ukraine, a move that could hinder its ability to defend against Russian advances.
International Reactions and Calls for Sanctions
The aftermath of the strikes has reignited international condemnation. Ukrainian President Zelensky called for swift and tougher sanctions on Russia, while Western allies continue to debate the most effective means of curtailing Moscow’s aggression. With calls for peace talks largely falling on deaf ears, Ukraine fears further escalation.
The situation remains fluid, as Russian forces persist in their bombardment of key Ukrainian cities, while the international community grapples with how best to respond to Putin’s defiance of global calls for peace.