Russia Unleashes Heaviest Drone Assault of War on Ukraine as Kyiv Links Attack to Trump-Xi Summit

Russia launched the largest drone and missile assault of the war on Ukraine over two days, pounding Kyiv and multiple regions with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in attacks that killed at least three people and injured around 40 others, Ukrainian officials said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia fired more than 1,560 drones and 56 missiles during the latest wave of attacks, including around 675 drones overnight on Thursday alone. Ukraine’s air force said air defences intercepted or jammed hundreds of incoming targets, but several missiles and drones struck civilian infrastructure across the country .

Kyiv was the primary target of the assault. Damage was reported at more than 20 locations across the capital, including apartment buildings, schools, a veterinary clinic, rail facilities and energy infrastructure. In the Darnytsia district, a nine-storey residential building was ripped apart after a drone strike, trapping residents beneath the rubble. Emergency crews rescued at least 10 people as smoke continued rising from the collapsed structure.

Officials said Russia used ballistic, cruise and aeroballistic missiles along with waves of attack drones in what Ukrainian authorities described as an attempt to overwhelm the country’s air defence systems through saturation tactics. Residents spent hours sheltering in metro stations, underground parking areas and basements as explosions echoed across the city through the night.

Ukraine linked the timing of the assault to the summit between US President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping , saying Moscow was trying to project military strength during high-level geopolitical talks. Ukrainian officials argued the barrage demonstrated Russia’s refusal to reduce hostilities despite renewed international diplomatic efforts.

The attacks also triggered alarm in neighbouring NATO countries. Poland scrambled fighter jets during the strikes near Ukraine’s western border, while Hungary summoned the Russian ambassador after drones reportedly landed close to its frontier.