UPDATE: Russia has launched its largest attack on Ukraine this month, striking at a critical moment as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Washington, D.C. negotiating with U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders. This escalation follows a recent meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where Putin rejected an immediate ceasefire and demanded territorial concessions from Ukraine.
The assault, which began late on Monday night and extended into Tuesday, saw Russia deploy 270 drones and 10 missiles targeting multiple locations across Ukraine. Ukrainian air forces reported intercepting 230 drones and 6 missiles, but at least 40 drones and 4 missiles successfully hit their targets, causing significant damage, especially in the central Poltava region.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed outrage on social media, stating, “While hard work to advance peace was underway in Washington, D.C., Moscow continued to do the opposite of peace: more strikes and destruction.” He emphasized the urgent need to end the violence and establish lasting security guarantees for Ukraine.
According to Ukraine’s Energy Ministry, the attacks have specifically targeted energy infrastructure, leading to large-scale fires at oil refining and gas facilities. The ministry condemned these strikes as “systematic terrorist attacks” that violate international humanitarian law. However, casualty figures from the latest assault have not yet been released.
The scale of the attack marks a significant escalation, with officials noting it as the largest since July 31, when Russia launched 309 drones and 8 missiles into Ukraine. Both nations have been actively targeting each other’s infrastructure, raising concerns over the humanitarian impact of ongoing hostilities.
Zelenskyy had earlier criticized Moscow for its aggressive tactics, stating, “The Russian war machine continues to destroy lives despite everything.” He called for increased international support to curb the violence and maintain pressure on Russia.
As the situation unfolds, the focus remains on the diplomatic efforts in the U.S. and the Kremlin’s continued military actions. The urgency of these developments highlights the precarious state of peace negotiations and the dire humanitarian situation in Ukraine.
Stay tuned for updates as this situation evolves.
