Russia reportedly executed its largest drone attack thus far, according to Ukraine, marking an intensifying offensive.
Russia stepped up its aerial bombardment of Ukraine overnight with its biggest drone attack yet, marking another escalation in a three-year-old conflict while dashings hopes for a ceasefire. The Russian attack included 355 drones and nine Kh-101 cruise missiles, according to Ukrainian officials, in what they described as the most extensive drone strike since the war began.
The assault, on the third straight night of significant aerial bombardments, saw six people killed and 24 injured across multiple regions, with major damage inflicted on civilian infrastructure in regions such as Kharkiv and Donetsk oblasts. In response, Ukraine's air force managed to intercept all nine cruise missiles and 233 drones, while neutralizing an additional 55 using electronic warfare or losing them from radar.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy lamented the impunity Russia continues to enjoy, stating that there is no significant military logic to the escalating attacks, but there is considerable political meaning. The ongoing bombardments come despite Ukraine's acceptance of an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in March that was proposed by the US but effectively rejected by Russia.
In a sharp response, US President Donald Trump criticized Russian leader Vladimir Putin, calling him "crazy" for stepping up attacks on Ukraine. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested that restrictions on longer-range weapons delivered to Ukraine may have been eased, allowing Ukraine to defend itself by striking military positions in Russia, although this was not confirmed.
International condemnation for the attacks continues to mount, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling out Putin for lying to Europe and the US. He suggested that Putin should be set a deadline for a political settlement, following which massive retaliation, including in the form of sanctions, would be enacted. The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also advocated for more sanctions, stating that Russia's attacks were "totally appalling."
In a development unrelated to the bombings, Russia and Ukraine carried out a major prisoner exchange on May 27, freeing more than 1,000 prisoners in total.
Associated Press writers Lorne Cook in Brussels, John Leicester in Paris, and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed.
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.
- Despite the ongoing ceasefire negotiations, political tensions between Ukraine and Russia remain high, with the Russian government escalating aerial attacks on Ukraine, which has resulted in significant civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.
- In Seattle, local businesses voiced concern over the escalating war-and-conflicts in Europe, as the ongoing attacks in Ukraine have resulted in economic instability that could potentially impact global general news.
- As international leaders continue to condemn Russia over the attacks in Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested that longer-range weapons may have been delivered to Ukraine, potentially enabling Ukraine to defend itself by striking military positions in Russia, although this has not been confirmed.
