Record Drone Assault Follows Trump-Putin Call As Ukrainian Frustration Mounts

The acrid scent of smoke and explosives hung heavy in the air over Kyiv on Friday as residents emerged from shelters following the largest drone assault of the war — a brutal Russian attack that came just hours after former U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed “no progress” toward a ceasefire in a call with Vladimir Putin.

The unprecedented 13-hour barrage, described by Ukrainian officials as one of the worst since the war began, left residential areas in ruins and ignited multiple fires across the capital.

At least one person was killed and 23 others wounded, according to Kyiv emergency services. Ukraine’s air force said it intercepted 476 of a record 539 Russian drones, along with 11 cruise and ballistic missiles. Sixty drones were reportedly neutralized using Ukraine’s new interceptor drones, a sign of evolving defense strategies.

Thousands of Kyiv residents sought safety overnight in underground shelters — subway stations and parking garages — as the city was rocked by explosions and the constant whir of drones.

“An absolutely horrible, sleepless night in Kyiv — one of the worst so far,” said Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the assault “one of the most large-scale air attacks” in Ukraine’s history.

Zelensky also drew a chilling connection: “The first air raid sirens in our cities began almost simultaneously with media reports about a call between Trump and Putin. Russia is once again proving it has no intention of ending its campaign of war and terror.”

Kyiv’s air defenses initially sprang into action, intercepting a wave of drones, but the bombardment persisted. The relentless assault damaged infrastructure across the capital — including high-rise buildings, parts of the railway system, and five ambulances rushing to help the injured.

The Polish consulate was among the buildings damaged. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski urged the U.S. to resume the halted flow of anti-aircraft ammunition to Ukraine and to enforce stricter sanctions against Russia.

This latest attack marks the second record-setting strike within a week — just five days ago, Russia launched 537 drones and missiles at Ukrainian targets. These near-nightly assaults have become a grim routine for civilians across the country.

On Thursday, Trump spoke to Putin for nearly an hour and admitted afterward he was “not happy” with the outcome. “We talked about a lot of things, including Iran and, of course, Ukraine,” Trump told reporters. When asked if he made progress toward peace, he responded bluntly: “No.” He added that he was “very disappointed” and believed Putin “is not looking to stop” the war.

In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin had reiterated Russia’s goal of achieving its objectives “preferably through political and diplomatic means.”

Trump also spoke with President Zelensky on Friday morning. Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, described the call as “very important and meaningful,” though no further details were given.

The aftermath of the attack left Kyiv not only in mourning but also grappling with dangerous air quality. Ukraine’s Ministry of Environmental Protection advised civilians to remain indoors, avoid ventilating their homes, and use air purifiers on maximum settings. Those with heart or respiratory issues were told to take extra precautions.

Frustration among Kyiv residents was palpable. Many drew a direct line between Trump’s apparent leniency toward Putin and the escalating violence.

“This attack happened right after Trump spoke with Putin,” said Yuriy, a resident of Kyiv. “It shows Trump is a scoundrel. The U.S. pausing aid to Ukraine while Putin continues bombing us is shameful.”

Another resident, Yulia Ryzhkova, echoed the sentiment. “Putin only respects power. Trump is not showing strength, and Russia knows it won’t face consequences. This is pure terror.”

Concerns have grown over Trump’s decision to pause certain U.S. weapons shipments — including vital air defense missiles — citing the need to preserve American stockpiles. The move has alarmed Ukrainian defense leaders, especially with new intelligence suggesting Russia could soon be launching up to 1,000 drones per day.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the U.S. has been Ukraine’s largest military supporter, providing advanced air defense systems, drones, tanks, and anti-armor weapons. But the shift in U.S. policy under Trump’s administration has cast a long shadow over the future of Western support — just as Ukraine faces one of its darkest chapters yet.