Russia Escalates Strikes Amid U.S. Criticism
Russia launched its largest drone assault on Ukraine since the conflict began over three years ago, the Ukrainian Air Force reported Wednesday. The attack involved 728 Shahed and decoy drones, along with 13 missiles, deployed overnight across the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said most of the drones were intercepted, but some penetrated air defenses, causing significant damage and casualties.
Civilian Casualties and Key Targets
According to Ukrainian prosecutors, five civilians were killed when drones struck private vehicles in Rodynske, a town in eastern Ukraine. Another three were killed shortly afterward in nearby Kostiantynivka, where Russian forces have been advancing. Two additional injuries were reported in the Kyiv region.
Zelenskyy noted that the city of Lutsk, near the borders with Poland and Belarus, was the main target, due to its strategic airfields.
Response From Leaders
The strikes came just one day after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin and pledged to send more weapons to Ukraine, reversing a brief pause in shipments by the Pentagon over stockpile concerns.
“I’m not happy with Putin, I can tell you that much right now, because he’s killing a lot of people,” Trump said at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday. He added, “We get a lot of nonsense from Putin. He’s nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
When asked about Trump’s remarks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov downplayed them, saying Moscow remained “quite calm about this.”
Zelenskyy Pushes for More Support
Zelenskyy described the attack as “yet another proof” of why further sanctions on Russia are needed. He is scheduled to meet U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg and other European leaders at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, where discussions will focus on rebuilding efforts and increased support.
The Ukrainian president is also expected to meet Pope Leo XIV for a second time during his visit to Italy.
Looking Ahead
The Rome conference will bring together political and business leaders to explore ways to bolster investment in Ukraine’s reconstruction. Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to press offensives, and Ukraine’s leadership is calling for stronger international backing both militarily and economically.
