Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine overnight, according to Kyiv on Monday. This escalation came just hours after Donald Trump labeled Vladimir Putin as "CRAZY" and cautioned that Moscow could face new sanctions if it continued its deadly assaults.
The U.S. president has been attempting to negotiate an end to the three-year conflict but has struggled to secure significant concessions from the Kremlin, despite ongoing discussions between his administration and Russia.
For three nights in a row, Russia has targeted Ukraine with extensive drone strikes, overwhelming its air defenses and resulting in the deaths of at least 13 people on Sunday, officials reported.
In an unusual criticism of the Russian leader, Trump stated on Truth Social late Sunday from Washington, "I've always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has changed. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!"
"I've always maintained that he aims to control ALL of Ukraine, not just a part of it, and that may be proving to be true. However, if that is the case, it could lead to Russia's downfall!" The Kremlin downplayed Trump's remarks on Monday, asserting that Putin was taking necessary steps "to ensure Russia's security." "This is a very critical moment, filled with emotional stress for everyone and likely to provoke strong reactions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the attacks indicated Russia felt a sense of "impunity." "The rise in Russian strikes should be met with heightened sanctions," he expressed on social media.
Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands, devastated towns and cities, and triggered the most significant crisis in relations with the West since the Cold War.
Kyiv did not report any immediate casualties from the latest drone strike; however, it noted that Russian shelling in the past 24 hours had claimed the life of a civilian man in the northern Sumy region.
On Monday, Russia announced that it had taken control of two border villages in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region, where it has been conducting an offensive for several weeks.
Explosions Reported in Kyiv
On Sunday, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with Russia's assaults on Ukraine, stating he was "absolutely" contemplating the possibility of imposing stricter sanctions on Moscow.
Early Monday, AFP reporters in Kyiv reported hearing loud explosions from air defense systems. According to Ukraine's air force, Russia launched "355 Shahed-type drones," including decoys, along with nine cruise missiles, between Sunday night and early Monday.
Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat informed AFP that this marked the largest drone assault since the onset of Moscow's invasion. Officials noted that air alerts in Kyiv persisted for six hours.
In the western Khmelnytsky region, Russian aerial strikes caused damage to 18 residential buildings, as reported by local authorities.
A Russian attack has left a 14-year-old boy injured in the southern Odesa region, according to the region's governor.
In recent weeks, diplomatic efforts to resolve the three-year conflict have intensified, with Russian and Ukrainian officials engaging in direct talks in Istanbul for the first time in three years earlier this month. Over the weekend, both sides conducted their largest prisoner exchange to date, each releasing 1,000 individuals. Meanwhile, Russia announced it is preparing a document detailing its peace terms for ending the war. However, Moscow has consistently dismissed proposals for a 30-day ceasefire from Kyiv and its Western allies while continuing its advances on the front lines.
