Russia’s Massive Aerial Assault on Ukraine Kills 12, Sparks Zelenskyy’s Plea for U.S. Action

Russia unleashed a devastating aerial assault on Ukraine overnight, deploying a staggering 367 drones and missiles in what officials call the war's largest air attack to date. The barrage claimed at least 12 lives, including three children in Zhytomyr, and left dozens wounded across cities like Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Ternopil. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, urging the U.S. to break its silence, warning that inaction only emboldens Putin’s aggression.

The assault targeted civilians with ruthless precision, shattering apartment blocks and spreading fear. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko described it as a deliberate attempt to sow terror. Ukraine’s air force downed 266 drones and 45 missiles, but damage was widespread, from Kharkiv’s high-rises to Mykolaiv’s residential complexes. In Khmelnytskyi, far from the frontlines, four perished in the onslaught.

This attack, the second in two days, comes as both sides prepare for a historic prisoner swap, with 1,000 captives to be exchanged. Yet, hopes for peace dimmed as U.S. reluctance to impose new sanctions on Moscow frustrated Ukraine’s push for a 30-day ceasefire. Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, warned that without global pressure, Russia’s war machine will only grow bolder.