Russia launches record drone attack on Ukraine hours after Trump criticizes Putin and pledges more U.S. arms to Kyiv

“This is a demonstrative attack, and it comes at a time when there have been so many attempts to achieve peace and a ceasefire, but Russia rejects everything,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram. He added that, “[Our] partners know how to apply pressure so that Russia will be forced to think about ending the war, not new strikes. Everyone who wants peace must act.”

The barrage, which mainly targeted the city of Lutsk, in northwestern Ukraine, was so intense that it caused Poland’s military to scramble aircraft in its airspace. It comes after weeks of intensifying aerial strikes on Ukraine by Russia.

Ivan Rudnitskyi, head of the Volyn Region’s military administration, wrote on Telegram: “Tonight our region again suffered a massive attack. Almost everything was flying towards Lutsk.”

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that it shot down 718 of the 728 drones launched by Russia. Ukraine directed 86 drones of its own against targets inside Russia overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed.

The intensified assault on Ukraine came after a dramatic 48 hours that sawTrump criticize Putin’s approach to peace talks and vow renewed military support for Kyiv.

“We’re going to send some more weapons (to Ukraine),” Trump said on Monday evening. “We have to — they have to be able to defend themselves.” Ukraine is in dire need of U.S.-made Patriot air defense missiles to repel mounting Russian attacks on cities across the country, which have killed dozens of people and injured hundreds.

Trump’s comments came less than a week after a senior White House official told CNN that the administration was preparing to pause certain weapons shipments, including air defense missiles. For now, however, Washington’s policy appears to favor the continuation of military aid for Kyiv.

“They’re getting hit very hard. We’re going to have to send more weapons,” Trump said. “Defensive weapons, primarily, but they’re getting hit very, very hard.”

“At President Trump's direction, the Department of Defense is sending additional defensive weapons to Ukraine to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement later Monday night.