Kyiv endured its most intense drone assault since the start of the war as Russia unleashed a barrage of over 500 drones and missiles overnight, killing one and injuring at least 23 people, just hours after a phone call between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
Air raid sirens and drone explosions echoed through the night, forcing families into metro stations for shelter. Ukraine’s Air Force reported intercepting 478 of the 550 air weapons, but damage still stretched across six of Kyiv’s ten districts. Nearly 40 residential buildings, several schools, kindergartens, and Poland’s consular office were hit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy denounced the attack as a “massive and cynical” move timed just after the Trump-Putin conversation. He later spoke with Trump to discuss enhancing Ukraine’s air defenses and joint defense investments.
Among the drones used were Shahed drones—an Iranian design now produced in Russia. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry also reported finding Chinese components in one of the drones, following minor damage to China’s consulate in Odesa from another strike.
Russia claimed it was targeting military infrastructure in Kyiv, but Ukraine has yet to confirm the presence of any military assets at the hit locations.
As pressure mounts, Zelenskiy called for tougher sanctions on Moscow, arguing that every civilian-targeted attack should come with immediate economic consequences.
The drone strikes are part of a broader escalation by Russia, which has conducted several high-casualty attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks. Meanwhile, U.S. delays in missile deliveries have raised concerns about Ukraine’s ability to respond effectively, prompting Germany to consider emergency air defense acquisitions.