Russia launched a record overnight barrage on Ukraine, firing over 620 drones and long-range missiles in a massive strike that killed at least four people and wounded dozens. The assault included 597 Shahed drones, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is now calling for immediate Western sanctions to halt Moscow’s attacks.
Ukraine’s air force said it intercepted 319 Shahed drones and 25 cruise missiles but confirmed that one missile and about 20 drones struck five different locations across the country. Civilian casualties were reported far from front-line combat zones, with two killed and 20 injured in Chernivtsi in western Ukraine. Additional injuries occurred in Lviv, and further casualties were confirmed in Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed it targeted military-industrial sites in Lviv, Kharkiv, and Lutsk, as well as a military airfield. In retaliation, Ukrainian attacks on Friday reportedly killed three people in Russia.
Despite ongoing aerial warfare, diplomatic progress remains stalled. US special envoy Keith Kellogg will arrive in Ukraine on Monday for further discussions, though Washington’s recent pause in some weapons shipments has hampered Kyiv’s defense efforts. Former President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, but no resolution was reached. Trump is expected to issue a new statement on Russia on Monday and reportedly gave Zelensky firm dates for renewed U.S. arms shipments.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin remains opposed to the proposed European peacekeeping force in Ukraine. Moscow insists it will continue negotiations but will not abandon its strategic goals, including demands that Ukraine drop its NATO ambitions.
Zelensky urged the West to impose harsher sanctions, especially targeting those aiding Russia’s drone manufacturing and oil revenue. He stressed that strong action—not just signals—is needed to curb Moscow’s air strike capabilities.
Russia’s economy continues to rely heavily on oil exports, which remain mostly unaffected by current sanctions. On Friday, the United Nations announced it would not renew a 2022 deal that enabled Russian fertilizer and grain exports, citing Russia’s repeated complaints over indirect sanctions.
