Russia targeted Ukraine with a record 728 drones, hours after US President Donald Trump pledged to send more defensive weapons to Kyiv and aimed unusually sharp criticism at Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The attack was the latest in a series of escalating air assaults in recent weeks that have involved hundreds of drones in addition to ballistic missiles, straining Ukrainian air defences at a perilous moment in the war.
Kyiv’s military downed almost all the drones but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia had caused unspecified damage, air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said on Ukrainian television.
Officials reported one person killed by drone debris in western Ukraine. Russia’s defence ministry said it had struck military airfields.
Closer to the battle zone, eight people were reported killed by drones and guided bombs in the Ukrainian-held part of the frontline Donetsk region.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, due to meet US envoy Keith Kellogg in Rome ahead of a gathering of countries friendly to Ukraine, said the strike showed the need for ‘biting sanctions’ on Russia’s income, including on countries that buy Russian oil.
Zelenskiy also met Pope Leo, who offered to host peace talks at the Vatican. Zelenskiy said this would be ‘entirely possible’ but that it had so far been rejected by Russia.
Trump said he was considering supporting a bill that would impose steep sanctions on Russia, including 500 per cent tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports.
“We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin... He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless,” Trump said at a cabinet meeting.
When asked by a reporter what action he would take against Putin, Trump said: “I wouldn’t tell you. We want to have a little surprise.”
&uuid=(email))