Ukraine has accused Vladimir Putin of attempting to publicly humiliate Donald Trump following a record-breaking overnight missile and drone attack on Kyiv, which occurred just hours after the two leaders held a phone call. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the seven-hour onslaught as a “deliberate act of terror” and a stark signal of how Russia approaches diplomacy. The Ukrainian capital was struck by over 550 drones and ballistic missiles, in what officials say was the most intense assault since the full-scale invasion began.
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The attack left at least one person dead and over twenty injured, with homes, warehouses, and transport networks damaged across the city. Residents spent the night sheltering underground, while drones circled and explosions echoed through the skies. The air raid ended at 9am, leaving black smoke hanging above Kyiv, and disrupting regular rail services. Teachers and pupils were seen clearing rubble from damaged schools, while civilians described the fear and randomness of drone strikes in residential areas.
The Ukrainian government refrained from criticising the US president directly, but has appealed for urgent international support. The recent pause in the delivery of Patriot air defence systems by the Pentagon has left cities exposed, according to officials. Zelenskyy urged immediate sanctions and weapons aid, saying delays only embolden the Kremlin. Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser, claimed Putin was using conversations with Trump to demonstrate his disregard for diplomacy and escalate attacks.
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In response, European leaders called for the United States to resume arms supplies and impose harsher sanctions. Poland’s foreign minister said Putin was “mocking” Trump’s peace efforts, while Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, confirmed widespread damage across the city. NATO’s former chief warned that Russia sensed weakness in the West and would continue bombing civilians unless decisively countered. Meanwhile, Ukraine launched its own drone strikes inside Russia, targeting areas near Moscow and Rostov, in a sign of continued resistance despite dwindling defences.
