Russia attacks Ukraine with 700 drones after Trump vows to send more weapons

Russia unleashed a record-breaking 728 drones on Ukraine overnight, a bold escalation following U.S. President Donald Trump’s pledge to bolster Kyiv with defensive weapons and his sharp rebuke of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The assault, coupled with six hypersonic missiles, underscores Putin’s apparent unwillingness to accept a peace deal based on current frontlines, as many analysts believe his ultimate goal is to seize the entirety of Ukraine.

The barrage, one of the largest in the war’s fourth year, strained Ukraine’s air defences, with Kyiv’s military intercepting nearly all drones but reporting unspecified damage from the missiles, according to air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat.

The attack targeted multiple regions, including Lutsk near NATO-member Poland, signalling Russia’s intent to project power and test Western resolve.

Kyiv has been asking Washington to sell it more Patriot missiles and systems that it sees as key to defending its cities.

Germany said last week it was in talks on buying Patriot air defence systems for Ukraine to bridge the gap after the Pentagon briefly paused some shipments.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, set to meet U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg in Rome on 9 July, called for crippling sanctions on Russia’s war-funding revenue streams, particularly oil exports. The two were travelling to Italy before a conference on 10-11 July dedicated to Ukraine’s recovery and long-term reconstruction following Russia’s invasion.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will open the Rome conference with Zelenskyy and European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to be in Rome along with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Dutch leader Dick Schoof and Greece’s Kyriakos Mitsotakis among others.

Trump, who has oscillated between conciliatory rhetoric toward Moscow and criticism of Putin, hinted at supporting a bill imposing 500% tariffs on nations buying Russian energy.

“We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin … He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless,” Trump said at a cabinet meeting.

When asked by a reporter what action he would take against Putin, Trump said: “I wouldn’t tell you. We want to have a little surprise.”

The Kremlin, asked on Wednesday about Trump’s comments on Putin, said that Moscow was “calm” regarding the criticism, and that it would continue to try to fix a “broken” U.S.-Russia relationship.

Trump said on Tuesday he had approved sending U.S. defensive weapons to Ukraine and was considering additional sanctions on Moscow, underscoring his frustration with Putin.

“We’re going to send some more weapons. We have to. They have to be able to defend themselves,” Trump told reporters at the White House at the start of a dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“They’re getting hit very hard now,” he added. “We’re going to have to send more weapons, defensive weapons, primarily.”

In a statement the U.S. Defense Department later said it would send additional defensive weapons to Ukraine at Trump’s direction, to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while efforts continue to secure a lasting peace.

Many observers argue Putin’s strategy hinges on total control of Ukraine, rejecting any ceasefire that preserves the current territorial status quo. Initial talks following Trump’s proposed unconditional ceasefire, accepted by Kyiv but not Moscow, have stalled, reinforcing suspicions that Putin seeks to exploit Ukraine’s strained defences and Western hesitation.

The Kremlin’s intensified strikes, including this massive drone assault, align with this view, aiming to weaken Ukraine’s resolve and infrastructure ahead of potential negotiations with an uncertain outcome.

The attack’s scale prompted Poland to scramble jets to secure its airspace, as Lutsk, just 125 miles from the border, faced significant strikes. No casualties were reported, but buildings, a storage facility, and parking structures were damaged, according to local officials.

Across Ukraine, residents sought refuge in metro stations and shelters.

Trump’s weapons pledge reverses a recent Pentagon decision to delay critical munitions, a move prompted by Russia’s deadly attacks. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, declaring diplomatic efforts exhausted, vowed continued support for Kyiv. Zelenskyy, meanwhile, requested expanded U.S. contacts to secure vital air defence supplies.

As Russia’s aggression intensifies, Putin’s rejection of a frontline-based peace suggests a prolonged conflict, with Ukraine’s western regions increasingly vulnerable and NATO’s eastern flank on edge. Europe’s push for new sanctions against Moscow reflects growing urgency, but Putin’s strategic calculus appears focused on conquest, not compromise.

With Reuters, edited by g.g.

Caption: Emergency services inspect the site of a drone strike on a residential area in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, 7 July 2025, amid the Russian invasion. Russian troops launched massive drone strikes on the city twice in one day. According to the State Emergency Service (SES), at least 33 people were injured, including three children, following a Russian attack by shock drones on Kharkiv and its suburbs. EPA/SERGEY KOZLOV