Ukraine has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of “publicly humiliating” Donald Trump after Russia launched a record-breaking overnight missile and drone assault on Kyiv, just hours after a phone call between the two leaders.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the seven-hour attack as a “deliberate act of terror” that offered a chilling glimpse into “how Moscow interprets diplomacy”. The timing, he said, made it clear that the strike was a direct response to the Trump-Putin conversation.
The assault was one of the most intense of the entire war, involving more than 550 drones and ballistic missiles. The Ukrainian capital spent the night under siege, with families forced to take shelter in metro stations, basements and car parks. Drones buzzed ominously in the skies while air defence units scrambled to intercept the onslaught amid machine-gun fire and explosions.
By 9 a.m. local time, Kyiv was blanketed in thick black smoke. Authorities advised residents to keep windows shut due to ongoing fires. At least 23 people were injured in the bombardment, with 14 requiring hospital treatment. Residential blocks, vehicles and warehouses were all damaged in the strikes.
Photograph: Libkos/Getty Images
The city’s usually dependable rail system was also affected. Passengers arriving at Kyiv’s central station on Thursday night were ushered through underground passageways, with the main concourse closed and services on Friday heavily delayed.
Russian president speaks
Speaking after his conversation with Putin, Trump admitted the lengthy call had made no progress. “I’m not happy about that. No, I didn’t make any progress with him today at all,” he said, noting that Putin remained firm on his demand for Ukraine’s capitulation.
The massive air raid came just days after the Pentagon paused delivery of crucial weapons to Ukraine, including replacement interceptor missiles for the Patriot air defence systems. Ukrainian officials warned that the decision left their cities dangerously exposed and empowered Russia to escalate attacks.
While Kyiv has refrained from directly criticising the US President, Zelenskyy made a pointed appeal to Washington and its allies to respond forcefully. “There must be consequences – not eventually, but now,” he said. “Strengthened sanctions. Immediate delivery of air defence systems. A shift from caution to clarity. The Kremlin is watching the world’s reaction. So are others.”
He expressed hope of speaking with Trump again on Friday regarding the continued supply of US arms, though expectations of a shift in White House policy remain low.
The latest barrage is part of a wide intensification of Russian airstrikes on Kyiv, which has seen some of the deadliest attacks of the war in recent weeks. Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that six of the city’s 10 districts had sustained damage, with drone debris igniting a fire at a medical facility in Holosiivskyi district.
