Kyiv: Russia has targeted Ukraine with a record-breaking 728 drones, Ukraine’s air force reported. The barrage came just hours after US President Donald Trump pledged to ramp up defensive weapon deliveries to Kyiv and issued unusually blunt remarks about Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine’s air defence units successfully intercepted nearly all drones, including through electronic jamming systems, the air force said via the Telegram messaging platform. The attack followed weeks of intensifying Russian airstrikes, prompting fresh calls from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for stricter sanctions targeting the revenue streams that fuel Russia’s war, particularly oil exports.
Zelenskyy stated that, “There is an urgent need for biting sanctions on those still buying Russian oil. Every attack shows why Russia’s income sources must be cut off.”
Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Trump signalled a shift in tone after months of mixed messaging on Ukraine. Trump said he was open to supporting a Senate bill that would slap steep sanctions on Russia, including 500 percent tariffs on countries importing Russian energy and critical exports.
The renewed military aid promise from the US president reversed a Pentagon decision made just days earlier to delay critical weapons shipments. Zelenskyy responded by directing Ukrainian officials to increase coordination with Washington to ensure expedited deliveries, with an emphasis on air defence capabilities.
Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, is expected to represent the US at an international aid conference in Rome on July 10 and July 11, which will be attended by Zelenskyy and Ukraine’s European partners.
Among the regions most affected by the overnight assault was the northwestern Ukrainian city of Lutsk, located just 200 kilometres from the Polish border. Ukrainian officials confirmed that Lutsk experienced the largest air strike of the war to date, with over 50 drones and five missiles entering the airspace above the Volyn region.
Regional authorities said several buildings were damaged, including a local storage facility and multiple parking structures, though no casualties were reported.
In response to the threat near NATO territory, Poland scrambled fighter jets to ensure regional airspace safety. The Polish armed forces’ Operational Command confirmed that allied aircraft were also activated as a precautionary measure.
Zelenskyy said that at least 10 other Ukrainian provinces suffered damage in the overnight barrage, further highlighting the severity and scale of the Russian operation.
As tensions escalate, the European Union is finalising a new round of sanctions against Moscow. While details remain under discussion, EU diplomats say the focus is likely to be on curbing Russia’s access to high-tech components and cracking down further on the shadow trade of Russian fossil fuels.
Initial rounds of peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv prompted by a proposal from Trump and accepted by Ukraine have yet to produce results, as Russia has so far declined to agree to an unconditional ceasefire.
With diplomacy stalled and attacks intensifying, the Ukrainian leadership is doubling down on military preparedness and international outreach, as Kyiv braces for what may become one of the most volatile phases of the conflict.
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