Russia hits four Ukrainian cities in massive drone attack
Russia launched drones and missiles throughout Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, striking four different cities in Ukraine.
Despite warnings from Western allies demanding a peace deal, Russia has continued its multi-year war.
More than 15 people were injured following attacks involving 400 drones and one missile. Ukrainian defenses successfully shot down 198 drones.
These attacks come days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that Russia must reach a peace deal by September 2 or face sanctions. Trump warned of 100 percent tariffs on Russian imports and secondary tariffs on any country continuing business with Russia.
On the same day, Trump revealed plans to send Patriot air-defense systems to Ukraine.
While supporting Ukraine, he criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for refusing to meet his peace demands.
Putin has insisted that a peace agreement must require Ukraine to withdraw from four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022, leave NATO, and reduce the size of its armed forces, conditions that Ukraine and its allies have rejected.
The Russian strikes targeted Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city; Kryvyi Rih, hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; Vinnytsia; and Odesa.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported destroying at least 70 Ukrainian drones from Monday night to Tuesday morning.
The Voronezh region, bordering Ukraine, was also targeted. Governor Aleksandr Gusev reported at least 24 people injured there.
On his Telegram channel Wednesday, President Zelenskyy stated, “Russia does not change its strategy.
To effectively counter this terror, we need systemic strengthening of defense: more air defense, more interceptors, and more resolve so that Russia feels our response.”
