Shortly after President Trump expressed his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the ongoing conflict, Russia significantly escalated its attacks on Ukraine, launching a record drone assault that impacted ten regions overnight.
The Russian military deployed a staggering 728 drones, which included more than 300 Shahed drones, alongside 13 Iskander K and Kinzhals missiles, as reported by the Ukrainian Air Force.
The city of Lutsk, situated in northwestern Ukraine near the Polish-Belarus border, endured heavy strikes; it’s home to over 200,000 residents and contains the Lutsk Air Base.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the air base was their primary target and that they successfully accomplished their objective.
According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, apart from Lutsk, the assault also affected regions like Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv.
“This is a notable attack. It occurs at a time when many efforts have been made to foster peace and a ceasefire, but Russia consistently dismisses them,” Zelensky remarked on social platform X Wednesday morning.
This statement coincides with remarks made by Senator Lindsey Graham, indicating swift Senate action on a strict sanctions package that would levy a 500% tariff on imports from nations buying Russian gas, uranium, and oil. The proposal has garnered over 80 co-sponsors and has the backing of Trump as well.
In a cabinet meeting, Trump expressed his discontent with the situation, saying, “It’s a war that should never have happened. Many lives are lost, and it needs to come to an end. There’s a lot of nonsense being thrown our way from Putin, who’s always presented as so agreeable, yet it seems futile.”
In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented that they would handle Trump’s remarks with care, suggesting that the president’s strong statements should be acknowledged.
The unprecedented assault by Russia followed news that the U.S. would resume sending defense weapons to Ukraine, just days after halting air defense and munitions deliveries. Trump emphasized the necessity of this move, asserting that Ukraine needs to defend itself amidst the aggression.
After discussing with Putin last week, Trump expressed disappointment over the lack of progress toward a ceasefire. He felt that the Russian leader wasn’t making efforts to deescalate the situation.
Trump also had a conversation with Zelensky the day after, where the Ukrainian president described the discussion as “very important and fruitful.”
Over the previous weekend, Russian forces launched 550 drones and missiles against Kyiv and other cities, resulting in numerous injuries and causing damage to cars and ambulances.
