Russia has launched its most intense air assault on Ukraine, hours after Trump-Putin talks ended.
Kyiv and other cities faced a wave of missiles and drones in overnight strikes.
Russia has launched its most extensive drone and missile offensive against Ukraine to date, striking just hours after a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended without diplomatic progress.
Loud explosions rocked the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, overnight Friday, July 4, as air defense systems scrambled to intercept incoming threats. Journalists on the ground reported hearing waves of drones buzzing overhead and multiple loud detonations, confirming the scale of the assault.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said nationwide air raid alerts began shortly after news of the Trump-Putin conversation surfaced.
“Once again, Russia proves it has no intention of ending the war or the terror,” Zelensky stated via social media, calling for increased international pressure. “Without massive, sustained pressure, Russia will not alter its destructive course,” he added, urging the U.S. to toughen its stance on Moscow.
Ukraine’s air force reported that 539 drones and 11 missiles were launched in the coordinated strike, making it the most significant single aerial attack since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. At least 23 civilians were reported injured in the barrage.
“This is the largest air attack of the entire war,” a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force told local outlets.
Despite the escalating violence, the Kremlin has reaffirmed its military objectives. Friday’s call between Trump and Putin reportedly their sixth since Trump reassumed office in January, did not produce any diplomatic breakthrough. While Trump had previously expressed hope for peace talks, his tone shifted markedly following the latest exchange.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga criticised Russia’s stance, accusing Moscow of disregarding all diplomatic overtures. “Putin has once again demonstrated his indifference to international appeals for peace, including from the United States,” Sybiga said.
The scale and intensity of Russian airstrikes have grown significantly in recent weeks. June recorded the highest number of drone and missile strikes in a single month, coinciding with the breakdown of peace efforts.
As sirens rang out in Kyiv, many residents rushed into underground metro stations for shelter, bracing for another night of danger.
The attack also comes amid growing unease in Ukraine regarding the reliability of U.S. military assistance. Washington announced this week it would scale back certain arms deliveries, citing logistical constraints and strategic shifts. The announcement prompted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to urge EU member states to increase their support for Ukraine.
In a counter-response, Ukrainian forces have stepped up cross-border drone operations targeting Russian infrastructure. In the latest incident, a Ukrainian drone reportedly struck an apartment building inside Russian territory, killing one woman, according to the region’s acting governor.
As both sides escalate operations and diplomacy stalls, fears mount that the war may be entering an even more volatile phase.
