LONDON — Russia in a single day hit Ukraine with the largest missile and drone assault of the battle, launching a document variety of drones at Kyiv, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin to induce him to finish the battle.
Lots of of Russian drones swarmed the capital all evening as movies present enormous fires and plumes of smoke billowing throughout the skyline. Residents described it as probably the most intense nights for the reason that begin of the full-scale invasion and folks in Kyiv are waking up Friday morning to town being blanketed by smoke from the fires nonetheless burning.
A person carrying a canine walks previous the wreckage of automobiles following mass Russian drones and missile strike on the Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on July 4, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Oleksii Filippov/AFP through Getty Photographs
No less than one particular person was killed and 23 folks injured, in keeping with Kyiv’s mayor, as many individuals spent the evening sheltering within the metropolis’s metro system.
Trump later held a name with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, throughout which Zelenskyy stated Trump had agreed to work collectively to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses.
Russia launched 539 drones and round a dozen missiles, in keeping with Ukraine’s Air Pressure. It follows one other document strike lower than every week in the past, as Russia has dramatically elevated manufacturing of the kamikaze drones used within the assaults.
The aerial assault started shortly after Trump held a cellphone name with Putin, throughout which the Russian chief once more refused to simply accept a ceasefire and signaled he would proceed the battle.
Rescue employees clear the rubble of a residential home broken by a Russian strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 4, 2025.
Evgeniy Maloletka/AP
Zelenskyy referred to as the assaults after the decision “cynical,” with Ukrainian officers suggesting they had been meant as a blunt message from the Kremlin to accompany the decision.
“Notably, the primary air raid alerts in our cities and areas yesterday started to blare nearly concurrently with media stories discussing a cellphone name between President Trump and Putin,” Zelenskyy wrote on Friday morning. “But once more, Russia is displaying it has no intention of ending the battle and terror. Solely round 9 a.m. as we speak did the air raid alert finish in Kyiv. It was a brutal, sleepless evening.”
After chatting with Trump on Friday, Zelenskyy stated the decision — which was deliberate earlier than the assaults — had been “essential and fruitful.” Zelenskyy stated the 2 leaders had agreed “we’ll work collectively to strengthen safety of our skies,” including that that they had agreed to a gathering between their groups.
Smoke rises after a Russian strike on Kyiv, Ukraine, July 4, 2025.
Yehor Konovalov/AP
Zelenskyy stated he and Trump had additionally had an in depth dialog about “protection business capabilities and joint manufacturing,” saying Ukraine is prepared for “direct tasks” with the USA, specifically regarding drones.
Russia’s enormous air assaults come because the Trump administration has paused deliveries of some key weapons, together with air protection missiles to Ukraine. Earlier this week, the Pentagon confirmed it had a paused a cargo of weapons earmarked for Ukraine that was already in Poland and that features Patriot interceptor missiles, saying it was conducting a overview of U.S. weapons shares to evaluate its personal readiness.
The transfer has set off alarms in Kyiv and European capitals, in addition to amongst Democrats and a few Republicans, who worry Trump is extra broadly pulling again U.S. assist from Ukraine.
After his name with Putin on Friday, Trump stated he was “very upset” with the Russian chief, saying he believes he’s not prepared to finish the battle. Zelenskyy has agreed to an instantaneous ceasefire, however Putin has refused.
Trump has lately threatened more durable sanctions on Russia if it continues to sluggish stroll negotiations, however up to now has been reluctant to impose them.
