Russia Bombarding Ukraine in Response to Ukrainian 'Terrorism' in Russia

"[The seven-hour raid was a] deliberate act of terror [which] immediately followed the call between Washington and Moscow."

"[It was one of the most severe assaults of the entire war and a] clear interpretation of how Moscow interprets diplomacy."

"There must be consequences – not eventually, but now. Strengthened sanctions. Immediate delivery of air defence systems."

"A shift from caution to clarity. The Kremlin is watching the world’s reaction. So are others." 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

 

"[Any U.S. phone call with Putin] inevitably results in massive demonstrative shelling of Kyiv – with enormous destruction."

"[Putin treated these conversations as] an opportunity to publicly humiliate the other side’s reputation [and it was a] way to demonstrate his [Putin’s] boundlessness and willingness to kill ever more brazenly."

Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to the head of Zelenskyy’s office 

 

"It was a terrible night. It’s roulette. You don’t know where the drones will land [sheltering in the corridor of her home, cradling her terrified cat]. "

"I counted the Shaheds [Iranian-made drones]. There were so many I gave up and started praying. Around 4am there was a massive bang. Dust blew into my flat."

"In the morning I left footprints like Santa."

Yaroslava Savchenko, a teacher, Kyiv

 

"[Putin is terrorizing Ukrainians so they would tell their government to] give up. The strategy won’t work. Russia doesn’t understand our mentality."

"Our problem is how we should live in the fourth year of war. "

"There’s no point in renovating your apartment, or buying a new car, if it can get smashed at any moment."

Artur Katroshenko, Kyiv resident

Rescuers in front of a damaged residential building in Kyiv. Photograph: Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images

 

Overnight Thursday waves of drones and missiles targeted the Ukrainian capital city overnight; the largest aerial assault in well over three years. The barrage killed one person, wounding 26 others. Several hours later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a "very important and productive" telephone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump where the two leaders spoke of how air defences for Ukraine could be tightened. Also discussed, the potential for joint weapons production between the U..S. and Ukraine amidst broader U.S.-led efforts to end the war.

 

Crucial air defence missiles have been paused by the U.S., meant for Ukraine, along with other shipments of military aid, leaving Ukraine's main European backers to consider how they might fill in the slack, with plans afoot to build  up Ukraine's domestic arms industry, according to the Ukrainian president. The fly in that ointment is the time it will take to scale up Ukraine's domestic arms industry.

 

Severe damage across multiple districts of Kyiv was caused by the bombardment in the seven-hour onslaught. The night sky was lit by the  blasts, echoing across the city while air raid sirens wailed. Emergency vehicle blue lights reflected off high-rise buildings and debris blocked city streets. "It was a harsh, sleepless night" for the residents of Kyiv, noted President Zelenskyy.  

 

With the intention of capturing greater swaths of Ukraine's territory, Moscow has accelerated its long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities. Only a week ago, the Russian military launched what was then considered to have been the largest aerial assault of the war, coinciding with the concerted effort to break through portions of the 1,000-kilometre front line, where Ukrainian troop remain under severe pressure.

 

Firefighters battle a fire after the Russian attack on Kyiv. Photograph: Libkos/Getty Images

"We were all in the [basement] shelter because it was so loud, staying home would have been suicidal."

"We went down ten minutes before and then there was a loud explosion and the lights went out in the shelter."

"People were panicking."

Alya Shahlai, home in Kyiv destroyed  

During the night of the latest massive attack, Russia launched 550 drones and missiles, the majority of which were Shahed drones, alongside the 11 missiles that were also launched. Five ambulances were damaged in the act of responding to emergency calls. Over 300 tons of rubble were removed by emergency services. Friday's telephone conversation between Messrs. Trump and Zelenskyy gave the opportunity for the Ukrainian president to congratulate his U.S. counterpart on his country's Independence Day celebrations.

 

The two discussed the possibility of a future meeting to explore methods of enhancing protection for Ukraine against air attacks; the detailed discussion on defence industry capabilities and direct joint projects with the U.S. materialized as part of the effort to explore all possible defence mechanisms.The U.S. is interested in particular in drone technology development, which Ukraine has excelled in, to aid in its effective counteroffensive, in an effort to compensate for a manpower deficit in its military against a much larger Russian military. 

 

The very day of this latest attack, Presidents Trump and Putin engaged in a telephone conversation. The content of the conversation appears to have failed to impress the American president favourably. When asked whether progress had been made on an agreement to end the fighting in Ukraine, Trump responded, "No, I didn't make any progress with him today at all. I'm very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin because I don't think he's there. I don't think hes looking to stop (the fighting) and that's too bad." 

 

Putin's foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, echoed the Russian leader in emphasizing that Moscow will continue to forge ahead with its goals in Ukraine, to remove the "root causes" of the conflict. "Russia will not back down from these goals." When the Russian military began its 'special military operation' in February of 2022, the justification used at the time was the necessity of protecting Russian-speaking civilians in eastern Ukraine and preventing Ukraine from joining NATO, as a threat to Russia's security and sovereignty. 

 

In June alone, Russia launched 5,438 drones at Ukraine, at the time, a new monthly record. Russia also launched over 330 missiles, including close to 80 ballistic missiles, at Ukrainian towns and cities that month, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The night was full of drones constantly buzzing overhead alongside the sound of explosions and intense machine gunfire as Ukrainian forces attempted to intercept the aerial assault. "Absolutely horrible and sleepless night in Kyiv. One of the worst so far", wrote Minister Andrii Sybiha.   

"Families running into metro stations, basements, underground parking garages, mass destruction in the heart of our capital."

"What Kyiv endured last night, cannot be called anything but a deliberate act of terror." 

Yuliia Svyrydenko, Ukraine's Economy Minister  

Smoke billows over Kyiv after a Russian drone attack. At least 23 people were injured in the assault, officials said. Photograph: Alina Smutko/Reuters