Kyiv suffers heavy overnight strikes as Trump-Putin call fails to ease tensions

A dense cloud of acrid smoke blanketed Kyiv on Friday morning after one of the most intense nights of Russian bombardment since the start of the war, Ukrainian authorities said.

The capital was rocked by explosions and the steady crack of air defence systems as Russia unleashed a record 550 drones and 11 missiles across nearly every district of the city.

The overnight assault left parts of Kyiv smouldering and residents shaken as emergency crews worked through the early hours to extinguish fires and clear debris.

Initial reports did not confirm the number of casualties in the capital, but officials said the scale of the attack was “unprecedented in recent months.”

“This was a deliberate attempt to overwhelm our air defences,” said Serhii Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration.

“We haven’t seen this level of intensity since the early phases of the full-scale invasion.”

The strikes came just hours after a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which raised hopes of a potential diplomatic opening.

However, Trump later told reporters he was “disappointed” by Putin’s refusal to commit to ending the war in Ukraine.

“I had hoped for progress, but President Putin is clearly not ready to bring this to a close,” Trump said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, calling it a “cruel reminder that Russia speaks the language of missiles, not peace.”

Meanwhile, Russian authorities reported that a woman was killed in the Kursk region following a Ukrainian drone strike, highlighting the continued tit-for-tat cross-border attacks between the two countries.

Despite Western efforts to broker a ceasefire, both sides appear locked in a grinding conflict with no sign of de-escalation.

The latest strikes underscore the dangers facing civilians on both sides and the fragile nature of any potential diplomatic engagement.

Ukrainian air defences reportedly intercepted a majority of the incoming drones and missiles, but several targets were hit, including residential buildings and energy infrastructure.

International condemnation of the overnight assault was swift. European leaders reiterated their support for Ukraine and warned that Russia’s continued aggression risked deeper isolation.

As Kyiv assesses the damage and braces for possible further attacks, residents have been urged to remain in shelters and stockpile essential supplies.