Russia unleashed one of its heaviest aerial assaults in weeks overnight, firing 574 drones and 40 missiles across Ukraine, according to Kyiv. The strikes killed at least one person in Lviv and wounded more than a dozen others in the western Transcarpathia region, far from the frontline.
The barrage came as US President Donald Trump seeks to broker direct peace talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the strikes underscored why ending the war is “so critical.”
Ukraine’s air force reported that 577 incoming targets were intercepted, though several penetrated defenses, damaging homes, schools, and infrastructure in western regions rarely hit by Russian attacks. Hypersonic, ballistic, and cruise missiles were launched from both Russian territory and the Black Sea, officials said.
One missile struck a US-owned electronics factory in Mukachevo, near Ukraine’s borders with Hungary and Slovakia, injuring 15 and causing serious damage. The plant reportedly produces coffee machines and other household appliances.
In Lviv, three people were injured when missiles damaged more than 20 civilian structures, including residential buildings and a nursery.
The strikes mark the largest air attack since July and signal Moscow’s intent to escalate even as international pressure mounts for negotiations.
Zelensky reiterated on Thursday that he is prepared to meet Putin “in neutral Europe,” citing Switzerland, Austria, or Istanbul as possible venues. But he ruled out Budapest, citing Hungary’s close ties with Moscow. Hungarian officials, however, said they were ready to host talks “under fair and safe conditions.”
Despite Trump’s efforts, Zelensky said there was “no sign from Moscow” that it intends to engage in serious peace negotiations. He also warned that Russian forces are massing in southern Zaporizhzhia, one of four regions illegally annexed by the Kremlin.
Meanwhile, Ukraine claimed responsibility for strikes on a Russian oil refinery in the Rostov region and a drone depot in occupied Donetsk.
The Kremlin’s latest offensive highlights the widening gap between Trump’s high-profile diplomacy and the battlefield reality: while Washington pushes for peace, Moscow continues to escalate.
