On Friday night, one of the largest drone and missile attack launched by Russia on Kyiv, Ukraine since beginning of the Ukraine-Russia war. Russia strikes over 550 drones and missile attack on the capital. Ukrainian officials described the attack as the seven-hour bombardment as the largest aerial attack since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
The massive drone and missile attack left one dead and at least 26 injured, including child. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that most of the aerial targets were Iranian-made Shahed drones, accompanied by 11 missiles. The attack inflicted heavy damage across Kyiv, with debris littering streets, high-rise buildings scorched, and emergency services removing more than 300 tons of rubble.
Russia Drone and Missile Attack on Ukraine
The deadly attack began hours after U.S. President Donald Trump held separate phone calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In his call with Zelenskyy, Trump discussed strategies to bolster Ukraine’s air defense systems, potential joint defense manufacturing projects, and diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending the conflict. Zelenskyy described the conversation as “very important and productive.”
Speaking to reporters Friday evening, Trump admitted that his conversation with Putin failed to yield any progress toward peace.
“I didn’t make any progress with him today at all,” Trump said. “I’m very disappointed with the conversation. I don’t think he’s looking to stop the fighting—and that’s too bad.”
Russian foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov later told media that President Putin reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to achieving its military objectives in Ukraine, stating, “Russia will not back down from these goals.”
Ukraine Faces Escalating Russia Air Attack
The seven-hour attack on Kyiv lit up the night sky with continuous explosions and the constant buzzing of drones. Air raid sirens blared as civilians ran for shelter in basements, metro stations, and underground garages.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the night as “absolutely horrible and sleepless,” calling it “one of the worst so far.”
“What Kyiv endured last night cannot be called anything but a deliberate act of terror,” added Ukraine’s Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, who highlighted the psychological and infrastructural damage caused by the unrelenting assault.
The Ukrainian military reported that 270 aerial targets were successfully intercepted, including two cruise missiles, while 208 targets were lost from radar, potentially due to Russian jamming technologies. Despite the robust defense, Russia succeeded in striking eight locations using nine missiles and 63 drones, according to Ukrainian officials.
Widespread Destruction in Kyiv and Beyond
Emergency services reported damage in at least five out of Kyiv’s 10 districts. Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that 14 of the injured were hospitalized, and five ambulances were damaged during response operations. The airstrike also destroyed residential homes, power lines, and public infrastructure.
One of the victims, 23-year-old wedding photographer Alya Shahlai, described the terror of the night:
“We hid in the basement shelter because staying home would have been suicidal. Ten minutes later, a huge blast took out our electricity, and everyone panicked.”
Outside Kyiv, five other regions also suffered damage from the bombardment, including Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and the wider Kyiv region. Authorities said debris fell across at least 33 different locations.
Trump-Zelenskyy Discuss Air Defense, Joint Drone Projects
President Zelenskyy used his call with Trump to congratulate the U.S. on Independence Day and thanked the American people for their continued support. The two leaders discussed not only air defense but also plans for U.S.-Ukraine collaboration in drone manufacturing, joint procurement of weapons, and investment in defense technology.
Despite recent delays in U.S. military aid, Zelenskyy stressed the urgency of building Ukraine’s domestic arms industry to reduce reliance on foreign shipments.
Peace Talks Remain Elusive
While prisoner swaps continue, there is no sign of substantive progress in peace talks. On Friday, Ukraine and Russia conducted another exchange of prisoners of war, with Zelenskyy stating that many of the returned Ukrainian soldiers were wounded or seriously ill, and had been in captivity since early 2022.
Peace negotiations have stalled in recent months, with sporadic exchanges of bodies and prisoners being the only tangible outcomes. No timeline has been set for the resumption of direct talks.
Ongoing Russian Offensive on All Fronts
Russia has intensified both its aerial and ground offensives in recent weeks. According to the Associated Press, Moscow launched 5,438 drones and over 330 missiles across Ukraine in June 2025 alone—making it the highest monthly total since the war began.
The 1,000-kilometer front line remains volatile, as Ukrainian forces face mounting pressure from coordinated Russian attacks intended to push deeper into eastern and southern Ukraine.
