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Ukraine suffers heaviest attack as Trump criticises Putin, triggering global alarm as Russian forces unleash a record-breaking aerial assault across multiple cities. The overnight barrage, which included 728 drones and 13 cruise or ballistic missiles, struck Kyiv, Lutsk, Lviv, Rivne, and other urban centers, leaving dozens injured and infrastructure severely damaged.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as a “telling escalation,” noting that it came at a time when diplomatic efforts to establish a ceasefire were gaining traction. “Russia continues to rebuff peace overtures with violence,” Zelensky said, adding that the scale of the assault underscores Moscow’s intent to prolong the conflict.
The timing of the strike coincided with a sharp rebuke from U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin following a recent phone call. “We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin,” Trump told reporters. “He’s very nice to us all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.” He later added, “He wants to go all the way, just keep killing people—it’s no good”.
Trump’s remarks came just days after his administration reversed a suspension of military aid to Ukraine, authorizing the delivery of 10 Patriot missiles to bolster Kyiv’s air defenses. The reversal followed reports that Trump had been unaware of the initial pause, which was reportedly ordered by senior defense officials.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to Trump’s criticism by saying Moscow was “pretty calm” about the comments, noting that Trump’s language tends to be “quite harsh.” Peskov added that Russia’s military actions are “necessary for the security of Russia,” and reiterated that the Kremlin is still working on a peace proposal.
The city of Lutsk, located just 90 kilometers from the Polish border and serving as a key transit hub for humanitarian and military aid, bore the brunt of the attack. Explosions also rocked Lviv and Rivne, while Kyiv endured hours of air raid sirens and widespread damage. Firefighters battled blazes sparked by drone strikes, and emergency crews worked through the night to rescue civilians trapped in collapsed buildings.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that hundreds of drones were intercepted, but warned that air defense systems are stretched thin. Zelensky has called for increased Western support, particularly in the form of interceptors and advanced radar systems. “Without truly large-scale pressure, Russia will not change its destructive behavior,” he said.
The attack has reignited calls for a renewed diplomatic push, though both Moscow and Kyiv remain skeptical about the prospects of a negotiated settlement. Two rounds of ceasefire talks earlier this year yielded no breakthroughs, and no further meetings have been scheduled.
Meanwhile, Russia’s summer offensive in eastern Ukraine continues to grind forward. Peskov claimed that “each new day the Ukrainians have to accept the new realities,” signaling Moscow’s intent to solidify territorial gains through force rather than diplomacy.
As the war enters its third year, the latest assault marks a grim milestone in the conflict’s evolution. With Trump’s criticism of Putin now public and military aid back on the table, the geopolitical stakes are rising. Whether this shift will lead to a change in strategy or further escalation remains uncertain—but for Ukraine, the cost of delay is measured in lives.