Vladimir Putin unleashed hypersonic missiles and kamikaze drones in the heaviest assault of the war on Ukraine overnight, just hours after Donald Trump expressed anger over the Russian president’s ‘bulls***’.
Kyiv revealed there were a total of 741 strikes on Ukrainian territory by the Russian armed forces, a record for the 40-month conflict.
This involved 728 drone strikes, mainly Iranian-designed Shaheds, seven Kh-101/Iskander-K cruise missiles, and six Kinzhal – or Dagger – hypersonic missiles.
Key targets of the massive bombardment were Lutsk and Ternopil in the west of Ukraine, which triggered an emergency response in Poland where fighter jets were scrambled to ensure the safety of NATO airspace.
The Russian blitzkrieg used a third more drones and missiles than the previous record – an enormous onslaught that came after the US President rebuked his opposite number in the Kremlin for failing to agree a ceasefire.
‘A lot of people are dying and it should end,’ Trump said. ‘We get a lot of bull**** thrown at us by Putin.
‘You want to know the truth? He’s very nice all the time but it turns out to be meaningless.’
Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the efficacy of Ukraine’s air defences in limiting the damage dealt by the record attacks overnight.
‘Most of the targets were shot down. Our interceptor drones were used – there are dozens of hits, we are scaling up the technology,’ he said.
‘Mobile fire groups were also working – we also had dozens of hits. Thank you to all the soldiers for their accuracy.’
Of the 741 reported missiles and drones launched by Russia, 718 were destroyed, according to Ukraine’s air force.
Some 296 drones were shot down, as were all seven Kh-101/Iskander-K cruise missiles in a significant blow to Putin’s firepower. Many more drones were downed thanks to electronic warfare systems.
‘The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Defence Forces of Ukraine,’ said an official statement.
But targets across Ukraine were unable to escape some damage.
The Lutsk mayor Ihor Polishchuk said: ‘Today was the most mass enemy attack with the use of UAVs and missiles on our city and community.’
There was damage and raging fires, he said.
‘Fortunately, at this minute there is no information about the dead as a result of the enemy attack. Let’s give thanks to God! Our honour, respect and gratitude to the Air Defence Forces.’
Kyiv was hit by explosions with a fireball exploding in one strike.
Warehouses caught fire in Kyiv region as a result of a Russian missile and drone attack. Zhytomyr was also hit by hypersonic missiles, said reports.
The Ukrainian President later called on Western allies to keep up their pressure on Putin.
He said: ‘This is a demonstrative attack, and right now, when there have been so many attempts to achieve peace, to cease fire, and only Russia rejects everything.’
Only the toughest sanctions would deter Putin, he said.
‘Painful sanctions against oil, which has been pumping money into Moscow’s war machine for over three years of war.
‘Secondary sanctions against those who buy this oil and sponsor the killings.
‘Our [Western] partners know how to put pressure on Russia so that it will be forced to think about ending the war, not new strikes. Anyone who wants peace must act.’
Both Polish and other Western air force warplanes were scrambled as a defensive measure during the Putin strikes.
‘In connection with the attack by the Russian Federation’s air forces carrying out strikes on objects located in the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aviation has begun operating in Polish airspace,’ said a statement from Warsaw’s armed forces command.
‘All available forces and resources at the disposal of the Operational Commander of the [Armed Forces] were activated.
‘Duty fighter pairs were scrambled, and ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems reached the highest state of readiness…..
‘The measures taken are aimed at ensuring security in areas bordering the threatened areas.’
Ukraine hit Russia with more limited strikes overnight, but they led to new temporary closures of at least two Moscow airports – Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo.
Explosions were heard in Zelenograd near Moscow, and in Tula.
Ukraine also struck military targets in Rylsk, in Kursk border region, with the Russians reporting two women injured.
In Kursk city, regional governor Alexander Khinshtein said three people had died and seven were wounded at a beach.
Among the wounded was a five-year-old boy who shielded his mother during an attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said the Russian media.
‘A vile, inhumane attack by Ukrainian criminals,’ posted Khinshtein.
‘Late in the evening, on a holiday, the enemy deliberately struck a place where civilians were.’
There was no independent verification of his claims, but one report said a Russian national guardsman was among the dead.
