Russia Launches Massive Aerial Assault On Ukraine Amid Tough Peace Efforts (Worthy News Radio)

By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – The Ukrainian Air Force says Russia has launched one of its biggest aerial attacks of the year on Ukraine, firing 574 drones and 40 ballistic and cruise missiles overnight. The reported deadly strikes came despite fresh diplomatic efforts to end the three-year war.

For residents in Kyiv, talk of peace seemed far removed from reality as explosions reverberated across the skyline.

The attack early Thursday forced many underground, with families bringing children and pets into the capital’s metro stations as air raid sirens wailed.

This time, no casualties were reported in the capital. But officials said Russia mostly targeted western regions—areas believed to store and distribute Western military aid.

Authorities confirmed at least one person was killed and more than a dozen injured in the strikes, which involved more than 600 munitions, including drones and missiles.

Russia has now fired nearly 1,000 long-range drones and missiles at Ukraine since Monday, when the White House hosted Ukrainian, European, and NATO military alliance leaders to discuss ways to end the conflict.

NO CEASEFIRE

As fighting continued, Moscow rejected a proposed ceasefire, apparently because it feared such a pause would undermine its battlefield gains.

Still, the White House said Russian President Vladimir Putin was prepared to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—though the Kremlin stressed any leaders’ summit must be “prepared with utmost thoroughness.”

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has already discussed with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán the possibility of Budapest hosting such a meeting, according to the White House.

Orbán, who maintains close ties with both Putin and Trump, recently announced that Hungary will withdraw from the International Criminal Court. That move would avoid a warrant that could otherwise oblige Hungary to arrest Putin if he entered the country.

Other European nations are also offering to host, including Switzerland, which has signaled it could waive its ICC obligations to play a diplomatic role, with Geneva serving as a United Nations hub.

For people forced to hide underground, those talks on ending the war cannot start soon enough.

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