Russia overnight launched its largest aerial assault on Ukraine’s capital since the start of the war just hours after President Donald Trump signaled dimming prospects for a ceasefire following a telephone call with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
While the attacks primarily targeted Kyiv, across Ukraine at least 23 people were injured in the strikes, which involved about 540 drones and 11 missiles, according to the country’s military.
“Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday morning on X.
It was a “brutal, sleepless night” for Kyiv residents, he added.
Out of the 23 people injured, 14 had been hospitalized, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram after several buildings were partially damaged and set ablaze. Damage was recorded in six of Kyiv’s 10 districts and debris raining down ignited a fire at a medical facility, he said.
Meanwhile, Russia intercepted 48 Ukrainian drones launched over its territory, the Defense Ministry said on Telegram. Two people were injured after four fell in Moscow, regional Gov. Andrey Vorobyov said on Telegram.
Zelenskyy and Trump spoke by phone on Friday morning about the Russian airstrikes and developments on the battlefield, the Ukrainian president said in a post on X.
“We spoke about opportunities in air defense and agreed that we will work together to strengthen protection of our skies,” he wrote. “We had a detailed conversation about defense industry capabilities and joint production. We are ready for direct projects with the United States and believe this is critically important for security, especially when it comes to drones and related technologies.”
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