At least one person has been killed and 26 others injured following a night of intense Russian airstrikes that targeted nearly every district in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, according to Ukrainian officials.
Thick, acrid smoke blanketed the city on Friday morning after hours of relentless bombardment. Residents endured a night marked by the sounds of drones, air defence fire, and multiple explosions. Ukrainian authorities reported that Russia launched a record-breaking 550 drones and 11 missiles during the attack.
The strikes came shortly after a phone call between U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following the conversation, Trump expressed disappointment that Putin showed no willingness to end the war. The Kremlin, however, maintained that the war would continue until its objectives were achieved.
Ukraine’s air force said the barrage set a new record, surpassing last Saturday’s previous high of 537 drones. Of the 550 drones launched overnight, 72 managed to breach Ukrainian air defences.
Air raid sirens blared across Kyiv for more than eight hours as successive waves of drones and missiles targeted the capital. The Ukrainian air force confirmed that Kyiv was the primary target, while President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the assault as one of the war’s most “cynical and demonstrative” attacks.
“This brutal, sleepless night is another clear signal that Russia has no intention of stopping this war,” Zelensky said on Telegram, drawing attention to the timing of the attack following Putin’s call with Trump. He appealed to international partners, particularly the U.S., to step up sanctions and pressure on Moscow.
Dramatic footage released by Ukraine’s State Emergency Service showed firefighters tackling blazes across the capital. In Kyiv’s Svyatoshynsky district, rescue workers discovered a body in the rubble, according to Tymur Tkachenko, head of the city’s military administration.
Ukrainian officials reported widespread damage, including to railway infrastructure, schools, residential buildings, and vehicles. Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski also confirmed damage to the Polish consulate in Kyiv.
Other regions affected by the Russian strikes included Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Chernihiv. Russia’s defence ministry described the attack as a “massive strike” launched in retaliation for what it called “terrorist acts” by Kyiv.
In a related incident, a woman was reportedly killed by a Ukrainian drone strike in Russia’s southern Rostov region, near the border, according to the local acting governor.
These latest strikes are part of a broader escalation in Russian aerial assaults, coinciding with stalled ceasefire efforts and growing tensions on the battlefield. The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has now entered its fourth year.
After speaking with Putin, Trump voiced frustration over the lack of progress. “I’m very disappointed. I don’t think he’s ready to stop,” he said.
The Kremlin responded by reaffirming its commitment to achieving its military goals in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the BBC that as long as Russia’s objectives could not be met through diplomacy, the “Special Military Operation” would continue.
Meanwhile, President Zelensky expressed hope of discussing military aid directly with Trump, following Washington’s decision to suspend certain arms shipments, including critical air defence systems.
Ukrainian officials warned that the halt in supplies could severely weaken their defence capabilities in the face of increasing Russian offensives.
Trump, addressing the issue, stated that the U.S. is still providing weapons and blamed President Joe Biden for depleting U.S. stockpiles by sending too many arms to Ukraine.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte acknowledged Washington’s need to maintain its own reserves but urged flexibility to ensure Ukraine receives the necessary support.
In a related development, a spokesperson for the German government said Berlin is in discussions with the U.S. to purchase Patriot air defence systems, which would be transferred to Ukraine.
