Russia Launches massive attack on Kyiv immediately After Trump–Putin Call
Immediately after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin by phone, Russia launched a massive overnight strike on Kyiv—firing more than 550 drones and ballistic missiles in a coordinated seven-hour assault on Ukraine’s capital.
The attack, one of the largest since the start of the full-scale invasion, targeted civilian areas and energy infrastructure across the city, sending thousands of residents into shelters. Ukrainian officials reported extensive damage in multiple districts and dozens of injuries.
In a statement Thursday morning, Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister described the assault as intentional, and closely tied to the timing of the Trump–Putin call.
“What Kyiv endured last night, cannot be called anything but a deliberate act of terror,” she said. “A sustained, 7 hour coordinated attack—over 550 drones and ballistic missiles launched onto the people of Kyiv, families running into metro stations, basements, underground parking garages, mass destruction in the heart of our capital.”
The strike began shortly after the phone conversation between Trump and Putin was disclosed by Russian state media and later acknowledged by Trump’s team. No detailed readout was provided, though both sides said the war in Ukraine was discussed.
“Launched immediately following the call between Washington and Moscow, this was one of the most severe assaults of the entire war,” the Deputy Prime Minister said. “A clear demonstration of how Moscow interprets diplomacy, intended purely as a message.”
The message, officials in Kyiv suggest, was not only directed at Ukraine but also at Trump himself—an unmistakable show of force timed to follow the conversation and highlight the Kremlin’s continued disregard for Western political signals. It would not be the first time Moscow has responded to diplomatic outreach with escalation.
Calling for swift international action, the Deputy Prime Minister urged Ukraine’s partners to abandon delay and deliver air defense systems immediately.
“ There must be consequences—not eventually, but now. Strengthened sanctions. Immediate delivery of air defense systems. A shift from caution to clarity,” she said.
Her warning extended beyond Ukraine’s borders:
“ The Kremlin is watching the world’s reaction. So are others.”
The Ukrainian government has reiterated its call for a decisive international response, saying inaction only encourages further attacks—and signals to authoritarian regimes that diplomacy can be met with force without cost.
