Russia launches massive strikes on Ukraine as Trump says peace is closer than ever
Attacks hit residential areas, energy infrastructure, and transport across 12 Ukrainian regions following U.S.-Russia talks.
Quick Look
- At least one person was killed and 34 wounded in Kyiv after Russia launched ballistic missiles and drones targeting 12 Ukrainian regions.
- The attacks followed high-level diplomatic talks involving U.S.
- Envoy Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Attacks occurred overnight using ballistic missiles and drones across 12 Ukrainian regions.
KYIV – At least one person was killed and 34 wounded in Kyiv as the Russian army attacked Ukraine with ballistic missiles and attack drones overnight, the capital city’s prosecutor’s office reported on Thursday. Overall, 12 Ukrainian regions were under bombardment, authorities said.
“Russian ‘humanitarians’ have launched three waves of ballistic missile strikes against Kyiv, using a total of 21. Unfortunately, the city has sustained significant damage and multiple hits, affecting residential buildings, energy infrastructure, a railway station and the metro, shopping centers, and industrial enterprises. Even a monastery is among the damaged sites,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram after the attack.
Ukrainian forces reported shooting down 181 out of 210 Russian drones but none of the ballistic missiles.
Zelenskyy said Russia launched its attack “almost immediately” after talks between U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended Wednesday.
Witkoff left St. Petersburg after praising Vladimir Putin as a “humanitarian,” a word U.S. Vice President JD Vance suggested was tied to the release of Stephen Hubbard, a U.S. citizen detained by Russia since 2022. “We’re getting close to ending the war. We may be closer now than ever before,” U.S. President Donald Trump said shortly after the talks.
Ukrainian forces said they killed and wounded a record 2,250 Russian soldiers – the largest number of Russian casualties in 24 hours since 2022, Ukrainian Army General Staff said in a press statement sent to POLITICO on Thursday.
Also on Thursday, Russia’s defense ministry reported shooting down 808 Ukrainian drones over 17 regions, including Ukrainian occupied territories.
Open Questions
- Why were none of the ballistic missiles intercepted?
- What were the exact terms discussed between Witkoff and Putin?
