Russia and Ukraine exchanged intense cross-border drone attacks overnight, marking another escalation in the ongoing war, even as U.S. President Donald Trump publicly rebuked both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for their roles in prolonging the conflict.
Massive Air Assaults Across Both Nations
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched a staggering 364 aerial weapons, including 355 attack drones and nine cruise missiles, with many targeting Kyiv and other regions. Ukrainian air defenses claimed to have intercepted all missiles and 288 drones. Despite this, damage from falling debris was reported in at least 10 regions, with five suffering direct impacts.
On the other side, Russia’s Defense Ministry stated it had downed 128 Ukrainian drones over 12 different regions. Key strategic sites in Russia came under attack, including a drone production facility in Yelabuga, Tatarstan, and a chemical plant in the Ivanovo region—both far from Ukraine’s border.
Trump Condemns Putin and Zelenskyy
President Trump expressed frustration at the inability to broker peace in the now three-year-long conflict, taking aim at both leaders:
“I’m not happy with what Putin is doing. He’s killing a lot of people… something has happened to Putin,” Trump told reporters.
Trump criticized Putin’s full-scale ambitions in Ukraine, calling them a potential catalyst for Russia’s downfall, while also accusing Zelenskyy of obstructing peace efforts.
“Zelenskyy is doing his country no favors by the way he talks,” Trump said on Truth Social, suggesting that Ukraine’s demands were derailing U.S.-led diplomacy.
Ukraine Pushes for Ceasefire and Sanctions
Ukrainian officials, including Andriy Yermak, called on Trump to enforce tougher sanctions on Russia and support a 30-day ceasefire to pave the way for peace talks. However, the Kremlin has so far refused the ceasefire proposal, and Trump has yet to respond with concrete action.
“Moscow can be speeded up with sanctions and weapons,” Yermak stated on Telegram.
Ukraine argues that Russia’s increasing aerial attacks show its lack of genuine intent toward peace, despite public statements to the contrary.