In a chilling reminder of the brutal reality of war, Russia today launched one of its most intense aerial bombardments of the year, firing hundreds of drones and missiles at cities across Ukraine, including in the country’s western regions. The massive assault, which killed at least one person and injured over a dozen, comes amid a flurry of U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to broker a peace deal, leading Ukrainian officials to question Moscow’s commitment to a resolution.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 574 drones and 40 missiles overnight into Thursday. While most were intercepted by Ukraine’s air defenses, a significant number of strikes hit civilian targets, causing widespread damage. In the western city of Lviv, one person was killed and three were injured in a strike that damaged 26 residential buildings, a kindergarten, and administrative buildings. Farther southwest, in the town of Mukachevo near the borders with Hungary and Slovakia, a missile strike hit a “major American electronics manufacturer” that produces household goods like coffee machines, injuring 15 people.
Image source: pravda.co.ua
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the attack as a “terror against people” and a sign that Russia is not interested in meaningful negotiations to end the war. “They struck a major American electronics manufacturer in our westernmost region, leading to serious damage and casualties,” he wrote on social media. “And that too became a target for Russia. Very telling.”
The ferocious attack comes just days after President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and key European leaders in Washington to discuss a path to peace, including a new proposal for security guarantees for Ukraine. The diplomatic push, which was seen by some as a major step forward, has been met with a cold reception from the Kremlin, which has downplayed the significance of the Washington talks and reiterated its commitment to a separate, direct negotiation with Kyiv.
For President Zelensky, the latest assault is proof that the Kremlin is not serious about a ceasefire. “Last night, the Russian army set one of its insane anti-records,” he said in a statement. “They struck civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, and our people.” He also called the attack “demonstrative” and “cynical,” designed to “humiliate diplomatic efforts.”
As the dust settles on the latest round of strikes, the path forward is more uncertain than ever. The attack not only undermines the U.S.-led peace process but also adds a new layer of complexity to the upcoming negotiations between Trump and Putin. With Russia demonstrating its willingness to escalate on the battlefield even as talks proceed, the world is left to wonder if the recent diplomatic efforts are a true path to peace, or just a new stage in a grinding war of attrition.