Trump Pressure Fails? Russia Bombs Ukraine, Moscow Rocked By Blast, Russian Ship Sunk

US President Donald Trump’s warning failed to halt the Russia Ukraine war, as Moscow launched a deadly missile and drone attack on Ukraine, while Kyiv carried out strikes on Russian targets including a vessel in the Black Sea. The escalation came after Trump warned that there was “not much time” left for progress and said the situation would either move quickly toward a peace deal or “go fast” in another direction.

Russia launched a major aerial assault on Ukraine, with Kyiv among the main targets. Ukrainian officials said Russian ballistic missiles and drones struck the capital, killing at least nine people and injuring more than 30 others. Several districts were damaged, and Lithuania’s embassy in Kyiv was also reportedly affected during the attack.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for stronger air defence support, including more Patriot systems, saying Ukraine was facing difficulties intercepting Russian ballistic missiles. Ukrainian officials said the attack showed the urgent need for additional Western military assistance.

The strikes followed Trump’s repeated warnings over the slow pace of peace efforts. Trump had said he wanted an end to the war and expressed frustration over continued Russian attacks despite diplomatic pressure. However, fighting continued, with both sides expanding strikes against strategic targets.

Meanwhile, a bomb explosion at the Balzi Rossi restaurant near Kudrinskaya Square in central Moscow killed three people and injured at least 21 others. Russian officials said an unidentified woman carrying an explosive device attempted to enter the restaurant during a private gathering but was stopped by security personnel before the blast.

The woman suspected of carrying the explosive, a security guard and a restaurant customer were killed. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin called the incident a “brutal terrorist act”, while investigators launched a probe. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Reports suggested the attack may have been connected to a possible high profile Russian military target attending the event, but authorities have not confirmed those claims.

Ukraine also intensified attacks inside Russian territory. Ukrainian drones reportedly struck three Russian oil refineries in Bashkortostan, including a facility in Ufa where a fire was reported after the attack. Kyiv has increasingly targeted Russian energy infrastructure to disrupt Moscow’s war operations.

In the Black Sea, Ukraine claimed it struck and sank the Russian linked vessel Yanina. The ship was connected to Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom. Russia said the vessel was carrying civilian goods and that the crew survived after the attack.

The conflict also raised fresh concerns around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which temporarily lost external power, increasing fears over safety at Europe’s largest nuclear facility.