In response to President Trump’s recent threats of sanctions, Russia launched an overnight assault on Ukraine, deploying over 300 drones and targeting Odesa, a crucial port city.
The attacks affected around 10 regions late Friday, with Russian forces firing 344 drones—approximately 200 of which were Shahed drones—alongside 45 missiles. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, around 185 drones and 23 missiles were intercepted.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted online that six individuals were injured in Odesa, including a child, following the strike, which also resulted in one fatality.
In Sumy, a northeastern city, “critical” infrastructure was damaged, leaving “thousands” without electricity due to the overnight assaults.
“My thoughts are with the families during this tough time,” Zelensky shared on Social Media. He also mentioned that missiles and drones had hit residential areas, causing significant damage to infrastructure.
Russia’s drone strikes have escalated recently, with attacks sometimes reaching up to 700 drones a night. Just this past Wednesday, more than 200 drones were shot down from another large-scale strike.
These latest assaults occurred just days after Trump hinted at imposing “severe” sanctions on Russia if President Vladimir Putin fails to cease military operations in Ukraine within a specific timeframe.
“We’re extremely disappointed in [Russia],” Trump remarked during a meeting at the White House with NATO’s chief, Mark Latte.
During Latte’s visit, Trump also emphasized that more weapons would be provided to Ukraine, clarifying that the U.S. would not shoulder the entire financial burden. The weapons will be sourced from various NATO allies in Europe.
Although Trump had initially run on a platform to halt Europe’s largest conflict since World War II, he’s recently adopted a tougher stance on Russia, criticizing Putin after their earlier conversation this month. He expressed concerns about Putin’s apparent unwillingness to end the ongoing war, admitting that they had “not made progress” in peace talks in over three years.
