Hours after a phone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia launched one of its largest aerial attacks of the three-year war, bombarding six regions of Ukraine and killing three emergency responders in Kyiv. The intense nighttime assault, which lasted for hours, appears to be a direct and forceful response to Ukraine’s recent, devastating “Spiderweb” drone operation that obliterated Russian airfields deep within its territory.
The barrage included 400 drones and 44 ballistic and cruise missiles, according to Ukrainian air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat. Ukrainian forces reported shooting down approximately 30 of the cruise missiles and up to 200 of the drones, but the sheer volume of the attack overwhelmed some defenses.
READ: After “Spiderweb” Fury: Trump, Putin Talk Bombed Airfields, Iran Nuclear Threat
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Interior Ministry, and the general prosecutor’s office confirmed that three emergency workers were killed in Kyiv while responding to the Russian strikes. “They were working under fire to help people,” the Interior Ministry stated, highlighting the brutal nature of the assault.
The retaliatory strikes follow a remarkable Ukrainian counter-assault, dubbed Operation “Spiderweb,” which saw 117 drones used to target and destroy dozens of Russian warplanes across four air bases thousands of miles from the front lines. Ukrainian security services estimated over 40 Russian aircraft were “burning en masse,” with the SBU intelligence agency claiming a staggering $7 billion in damages and hits on 34% of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers. Confirmed hits included critical assets such as TU-95 and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, as well as a rare A-50 surveillance plane.
READ: Ukraine Strikes Deep Inside Russia, Destroying Dozens Of Warplanes In Op “Spiderweb”
During his phone call with President Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly asserted that he “will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.” This declaration, detailed by President Trump on Truth Social, foreshadowed the subsequent wave of Russian attacks. An administration official confirmed to CNN that the Trump administration was not given advance notice of the “Spiderweb” operation, underscoring the independent nature of Ukraine’s actions and the immediate Russian reaction.
The latest Russian offensive serves as a stark reminder of the escalating tensions in the conflict, even as international diplomatic efforts continue. President Trump, just hours before the Russian barrage, had remarked that it might be better to let Ukraine and Russia “fight for a while” before pursuing peace, a significant shift from his previous calls for an immediate end to hostilities.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha sharply condemned the Russian attacks, drawing a clear distinction between the combatants’ methods. “The difference … is that Ukraine hits legitimate military targets—such as aircraft equipped to bomb our children. Russia targets residential areas, civilians, and critical infrastructure,” Sybiha wrote on X. “Putting Ukraine and Russia on equal footing is unacceptable.”
READ: GOP Senators Pressure Trump To Sanction Russia Amid Stalled Ukraine Peace Talks
This latest escalation further complicates any prospects for immediate peace talks, with the sides remaining far apart on their terms for an end to the fighting.
The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, noted on Thursday that “The Kremlin continues efforts to falsely portray Russia as willing to engage in good-faith negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, despite Russia’s repeated refusal to offer any concessions.”
This sentiment is reinforced by statements from senior Russian officials, including Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev, who recently claimed Russia seeks a ”swift victory” and the ”complete destruction” of Ukraine’s government.
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