Russia Launches Largest Air Attack of War on Ukraine, Leaving 13 Dead

Zelenskiy urges the U.S. to act against Russia after its largest drone and missile attack; Ukraine pushes for ceasefire as deadly strikes continue nationwide.

An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv

Source : REUTERS

Russia launched its biggest air attack on Ukraine overnight, firing 367 drones and missiles at several cities, including the capital, Kyiv. Ukrainian officials said 13 people were killed and many others were hurt during the attack. This was the largest aerial strike since the war began.

Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, asked the United States to speak out more strongly against Russia. He said the U.S. has been quieter about Russia since President Donald Trump took office, and he called for stronger support from American leaders.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has urged the United States to take a stronger stand against Russia, criticizing what he sees as a lack of action since Donald Trump became president.

"The silence of America, the silence of others in the world only encourages Putin," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram.
"Every such terrorist Russian strike is reason enough for new sanctions against Russia."

His comments came after Russia carried out its biggest air attack of the war so far, using hundreds of drones and missiles overnight. Although this assault didn't result in the highest number of deaths, it involved the most weapons fired at once.

The attack happened just as Ukraine and Russia were finishing a three-day prisoner exchange, with 1,000 people being swapped on each side.

Try For Ceasefire

Ukraine and its European partners have been pushing for a 30-day ceasefire as a starting point for ending the conflict, which has lasted three years. But hopes for progress were dealt a blow when President Trump chose not to impose new sanctions on Russia after it refused to pause its attacks — something Kyiv had been calling for.

Ukraine’s air force said Russia fired 298 drones and 69 missiles during the night. Of those, 266 drones and 45 missiles were shot down. The strikes caused damage in several cities, including Kharkiv in the northeast, Mykolaiv in the south, and Ternopil in the west.

In Kyiv, 11 people were injured in drone attacks, according to the city’s military chief, Tymur Tkachenko. No deaths were reported in the capital itself, but officials said four people were killed in the surrounding region.

This marked the second major air attack in two days. On Friday night, Russian forces also sent waves of drones and missiles toward Kyiv, keeping residents on edge through the night. 

Further west in Khmelnytskyi, far from the main battle zones, four people were killed and five wounded in drone strikes, according to local authorities.

"Without pressure, nothing will change and Russia and its allies will only build up forces for such murders in Western countries," wrote Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiy’s chief of staff. "Moscow will fight as long as it has the ability to produce weapons."

Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defenses shot down 95 Ukrainian drones within four hours. Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin also reported that 12 drones were intercepted before reaching the capital.