You Can’t Wish Away the Russians

Despite President Donald Trump’s unequivocal but empty assurances of an impending end to Russia’s bombings and slaughter of Ukrainians, you really can’t just wish away Russians from Ukraine.

Ukraine’s capital Kyiv and the surrounding towns came under another deadly Russian attack early Monday morning, July 6, killed some 30 people on the eve of a critical NATO summit in Turkey that President Donald Trump plans to attend.

This calculated cruelty comes just days after a Thursday, July 3, strike that killed 31 civilians in Kyiv.

In the capital of Kyiv alone, at least 15 people were killed and 56 others injured (including seven children). The death toll is expected to rise as rescue workers continue digging through the rubble.

In the surrounding Kyiv oblast, another seven people were killed and 29 injured.

The barrage involved a brutal mix of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic Zircon anti-ship missiles, and over 350 attack and decoy drones. At least 15 multi-story residential buildings in Kyiv were hit directly. In the historic Podilskyi district, a nine-story apartment block was completely shattered from the fifth floor up, leaving residents trapped under the ruins.

Horrifyingly, Ukrainian military officials noted that due to severe shortages of critical interceptors, none of the 23 ballistic missiles targeting the capital could be shot down.

My colleague and contributing writer to The Ukrainian Quarterly, Tetyana Parkhomchuk of Kyiv observed afterward: “Thank God everything is okay, except for the psychological state. The nerves just can’t take it anymore. Shattered buildings again, a mangled Kyiv. The small town of Vyshneve near Kyiv was also hit very badly. No one is saying it directly, but it’s obvious they bombed our ammunition. It exploded for several hours, and in addition to that, the warheads of the missiles were exploding too. There is nothing to shoot down ballistics and Zircons with.”

She added that 13 hectares of residential buildings were damaged in Vyshneve, according to Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. “This is the greatest destruction of the housing sector in the entire time of the full-scale invasion.” Parkhomchuk noted.

To give the reader a visual sense of that scale: 13 hectares (or 32 acres) is roughly equivalent to the size of 24 American football fields completely leveled or severely damaged. It is a massive footprint for a residential area.

Russia unleashed waves of missiles and drones at Ukraine in attacks that exposed widening gaps in the country’s air defenses more than four years into Moscow’s full-scale invasion, authorities said.

All of the ballistic missiles launched by Russia struck their targets, underscoring Kyiv’s need for more US-made Patriot interceptor missiles — a point Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will likely emphasize at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, this week.

Russia’s Defense Ministry warned that any increase in the supply of drones, missiles and ammunition produced in the West “will not go unnoticed and will be countered by a corresponding increase in the number and power of retaliatory strikes by the Russian armed forces on Ukrainian territory.”

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Russia is deliberately ramping up ballistic missile attacks on a scale unseen before, exploiting the acute shortage of Patriot interceptors. “Fewer such missiles are produced worldwide each month than the enemy fires at Ukraine in that same period,” he said.

The Ukrainian air force said in posts to Telegram that Russia launched 68 missiles – among them 23 ballistic missiles – and 351 drones into the country overnight. The air force said that 37 missiles and 326 drones were shot down or otherwise suppressed, with impacts of 29 missiles and 18 drones reported across 34 locations.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in an online update that Tuesday had been declared another day of mourning for those killed, saying flags on municipal buildings across the city would be lowered and all entertainment events canceled.

The Ukrainian Air Force said that while air defenses downed 363 drones and cruise missiles, “a serious shortage” of interceptor missiles for Ukraine’s US-made Patriot surface-to-air batteries meant that none of the 29 ballistic missiles fired at Kyiv was stopped.

“The success rate is low, to put it mildly. To shoot down ballistic missiles, you need the assets to do so. We have enough systems, but what we need is a steady supply of missiles. Russia is exploiting the fact that Ukraine – and indeed the world – is facing a serious shortage of PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptor missiles. That is why it is increasingly focusing on ballistic missile strikes,” said Air Force spokesman Col. Yurii Ihnat.

In a post on X on Monday, Zelenskyy, who will meet Trump in Ankara on the sidelines of the summit Wednesday, called for “strong decisions to support our air defense,” saying that Patriots remaining “in the warehouses of allies” gave a green light for Russia to attack apartment buildings housing ordinary people.

A senior US official said Trump, who spoke separately with Zelenskyy and Putin on the phone on Saturday, was renewing efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict as “a pressing priority.”

“The president feels a real sense of urgency to try to bring this to a stop. Both sides have articulated as recently as yesterday, that President Trump plays a unique role in his ability to try to mediate this,” the official told The Hill.

The Ankara summit is being described behind the scenes as a meeting of “delivery and implementation” rather than new innovations, but the political undercurrents are incredibly tense. Given the horrific overnight strikes on Kyiv, Zelenskyy is pushing hard to ensure this meeting does not become a "hollow exercise."   

Here are the key hints and developments regarding what member-states are prepared to say and do:

1. Air Defenses and a "Stalemate" Focus

While Zelenskyy is publicly demanding massive, decisive upgrades to Ukraine’s air defense capabilities—even advocating for U.S. licenses to manufacture Patriot systems directly in Ukraine—the immediate focus of the alliance’s largest player is shifting.

Trump is scheduled to meet face-to-face with Zelenskyy on Wednesday. White House officials have explicitly stated that Trump is entering this meeting with a sense of urgency to find a path to end the war, viewing the current frontline situation as a "stalemate." Trump is expected to use this meeting to pivot toward diplomacy, with plans to follow up directly with Putin afterward. 

If recent meetings are harbingers of things to come, then this one will also turn out to be a waste of time and money.

2. A €70 Billion Commitment (With a Transatlantic Catch)

According to draft summit declarations, European allies and Canada are preparing to reaffirm long-term military support by pledging €70 billion ($80 million) for 2026, with a commitment to maintain similar levels in 2027. However, this package exposes a deepening transatlantic rift:

The funding is expected to come almost entirely from existing bilateral European commitments and a €60 billion European Union loan facility.

The United States is not expected to contribute to this specific financial package, reflecting Trump's intense pressure on European states to assume the primary burden of their own continent's security.

3. The 5% Defense Spending Push

The primary friction point among member-states will be defense budgets. At last year’s summit in The Hague, allies agreed to a staggering target of spending 5% of their GDP on defense by 2035. European allies will arrive in Ankara eager to prove they are pulling their weight, highlighting that they increased core defense investments by over $139 billion in 2025 alone. Trump, however, is expected to heavily critique members he believes are still "free-riding" on American military might.   

4. Turkey’s Balancing Act

As the host, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has a complex agenda. While Turkey will vocally support Ukraine’s territorial integrity and showcase its own defense industry, Erdoğan is also using the summit for his own strategic leverage. He is expected to press Trump to lift US sanctions on Turkey and restore Ankara's access to the F-35 fighter jet program.   

Ultimately, while the alliance will officially project a message of continued, multi-billion-dollar support for Ukraine’s defense industry, the real story in Ankara will be the intense, behind-the-scenes pressure from Washington to transition from an open-ended conflict into concrete diplomatic negotiations – also a wasteful plot which will only delay an end to the war and prolong Ukrainians’ death and suffering. Any sanctions or political pressure must be painful enough for Russia to return to its homeland without hesitation.

Many seasoned analysts, diplomats, and, most of all, the people who have to live through the reality of Russian aggression every day realize that an end to the fighting is still far off in the distant future. Putin knows he can delay an end until the USA and West raise their arms in frustration. To anyone who has watched Moscow’s pattern of behavior over the decades, the idea that a breakthrough could be achieved simply by sitting down with Putin is a pipedream. Moscow is not doing anything that would signal its intention to end the war. It continues to treat Western entreaties with derision and aerial assaults against innocent Ukrainians.

European leaders have also reacted with intense fury and sharp condemnation, making it clear that this strikes right at the heart of why they are gathered for the NATO summit.   

The condemnation from Europe’s top figures has been swift and direct:

EU Chief Diplomat Kaja Kallas stated bluntly that “words of condemnation alone will not stop attacks on Kyiv. Only sustained military support for Ukraine and increased pressure on Moscow can do that.” She immediately announced a proposal to slap fresh sanctions on more entities feeding Russia's military-industrial complex, adding, “We keep raising the cost until Russia understands it cannot win.”   

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen led the collective outcry, pointing out that the Russian regime “once again blindly attacked civilians from the air.” She explicitly tied the horror of these strikes to the immediate agenda in Turkey, stating, “Ukraine urgently needs more air defense. We will discuss it this week in Ankara at the NATO Summit.”   

France’s Foreign Ministry issued a scathing statement, declaring that the deliberate targeting of civilian residential neighborhoods proves Moscow’s “contempt for international humanitarian law” and entirely exposes their “unwillingness to negotiate in good faith.”   

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna emphasized that the Kremlin’s calculus will only change under forced compulsion, calling for a massive ramp-up of economic, political, and military pressure.   

The overriding message from the Europeans today is one of deep frustration with Western hesitation. They are pushing the narrative that these regular slaughters of civilians are happening precisely because the West is leaving gaps in Ukraine’s skies, and they are trying to use this horrific moment to pressure the alliance – and a skeptical Washington – into dropping restrictions and delivering the hardware needed to actually stop the missiles.

Any expression of hope, any dream, any offer of negotiations or diplomacy will only result in additional deaths of innocent Ukrainians. Europe is fast approaching the point when it must recognize that Russia must encounter the full wrath of the free world. 

 Zelenskyy Tactfully Says End of War is near, but Russian Bombing Stands in the Way

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after his July Fourth telephone call with President Donald J. Trump, tactfully expressed a positive view about a “real prospect” for ending Russia’s more than four-year war against Ukraine.

However, while this time he overlooked Russia’s deleterious role in the peace process, Zelenskyy did emphasize that “There is a real prospect to end this war and American resolve will have a crucial meaning,” according to official records.

The aggressor’s records reported a “business-like and quite constructive” atmosphere in the 90-minute call between Trump and Putin. According to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, Trump, as always, reaffirmed his readiness to facilitate a rapid cessation of hostilities. However, Putin used the telephone call to falsely claim that Russian forces are “confidently advancing” on the battlefield, specifically pointing to the contested stronghold of Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region. Ukraine’s General Staff has strictly denied this claim, calling it “just another Russian lie.” Putin also accused Kyiv and its European allies of trying to escalate the conflict.

While world was watching unproductive diplomacy at work, Russia intensified its aerial assaults across Ukraine. Russia launched a massive UAV and missile barrage against Ukraine: On the night of July 4-5, Russian forces launched a coordinated strike using 125 drones, one Kh-31 anti-radiation missile, and three Kh-59/69 guided air-launched missiles.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy again cited intelligence warnings of further attacks. He issued an urgent warning to citizens on July 5, stating that Ukrainian intelligence indicates Russia is actively preparing an even larger, massive wave of strikes. Zelenskyy noted that launching heavy strikes immediately following Independence Day and right before a major NATO summit is a signature pattern of Putin’s strategy to exert pressure. He renewed calls to international partners to expedite the delivery of Patriot air defense batteries directly to the front line rather than keeping them in warehouses.

Zelenskyy reported that Ukraine faced approximately 2,200 attack drones, over 1,730 guided aerial bombs, and 106 missiles in just one week. While Ukrainian forces typically intercept over 90% of drones, Zelenskyy stressed the critical lack of anti-ballistic capabilities.

Specifically, he detailed the volume of weaponry deployed by Russian forces over the past seven days, the Ukrainian President reported the following figures:

· Approximately 2,200 attack drones

· More than 1,730 guided aerial bombs (KABs)

· 106 missiles of various types, with nearly half classified as ballistic.

The pattern of these urgent intelligence-backed warnings over the last fortnight highlights a highly intensified period of the air war:

· Warning #1 (Around June 20–21): Zelenskyy warned citizens to strictly heed air raid sirens, stating that intelligence showed Russia had prepared a massive wave of strikes. Shortly after, heavy bombardments struck various regions, including a highly destructive strike in Kyiv that heavily damaged the historic Pechersk Lavra monastery.

· Warning #2 (July 1): Speaking at a press conference in Dublin, Zelenskyy announced he had to cut his travel short and return to Ukraine immediately due to “very unpleasant” intelligence data indicating another massive Russian attack was imminent. This warning was tragically realized just hours later on July 2, when Russia unleashed what Kyiv officials called the heaviest, most massive coordinated strike on the capital since the start of the full-scale invasion, killing over 20 people and hitting residential blocks.

· Warning #3 (Today, July 5): The latest warning, noting that intelligence points to an imminent strike timed precisely to exploit the post-July 4th holiday weekend and create leverage right before the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.

The sheer frequency of these warnings—three distinct, massive waves predicted in about 15 days—underscores exactly why the diplomatic phone lines were ringing so heavily this weekend, and why the push for active Patriot batteries on the ground has become so desperate. Zelenskyy’s concern is genuine. When a dictator like Putin tells you what he intends to do, like bomb your cities and towns, and kill your citizens, it is a statement of policy, not a bluff. When someone repeatedly shows you and tells you exactly who they are, believing them isn’t cynical; it’s the only baseline for survival.

Interestingly, just today, Vice President JD Vance gave an interview to The Sunday Times where he claimed that the Trump Administration actually believes the Kremlin is “asking for too much” in terms of concessions to end the conflict. In that same interview, Vance argued that Russia’s actual offensive capabilities on the battlefield are ‘negligible and approaching zero” because Ukraine’s defensive strategy has been so effective at grinding them down. Does this mean that the White House is solidly in Ukraine’s court? Time will tell.

So while the rhetoric from the top can often sound baffling – or dangerously naïve – the reality of Putin’s actions speaks for itself. He has not yet fulfilled his goal in Ukraine, that is total destruction or subjugation of the country and people.

Zelenskyy’s observation regarding the telephone call is deeply calculated for the current political moment. With the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, he knows that “American resolve” is the ultimate leverage. By framing peace as a “real prospect” rather than a distant dream, he is actively trying to incentivize the incoming US Administration. It is a tactical move to show that American support isn’t a bottomless investment into a forever war, but rather the final push needed to cross the finish line.

From a purely military and analytical standpoint, there is a realistic foundation to what he’s saying, but it relies entirely on the second half of his sentence. If the US and its allies maintain or accelerate their support – such as deploying the active air defense systems Zelenskyy is begging for – they can continue to grind down Russia’s offensive capabilities. As JD Vance noted in his Sunday Times interview, Ukraine’s defensive strategy has already pushed Russia’s actual offensive capacity to a brutal, costly crawl. The prospect of peace becomes realistic only if Russia realizes it can no longer afford the price of moving forward.

However, as long as Putin continues to read from his rigid imperial script, telling Trump that Russia will not let up on its air campaigns and demanding massive concessions, any immediate end to the war remains firmly in the realm of wishful thinking. Putin is banking on American resolve failing, not succeeding. So far, Trump is playing right into Putin’s game plan.

While Zelenskyy’s words are a realistic description of a potential path forward, the actual execution relies entirely on variables he cannot control. Without that absolute, unwavering Western resolve, it remains a very high-stakes wish. Western Europe, NATO and the former captive nations cannot let up their military and political pressure on Russia or else Ukraine and they will lose.

From a purely diplomatic and analytical standpoint, Zelenskyy is playing a very smart, calculated hand here. He knows exactly who he is dealing with. A few days ago, he publically called the aggressor “Russian scum.” After the intense friction and unpredictable dynamics of past face-to-face meetings – like the highly publicized Oval Office donnybrook last year – Zelenskyy has clearly adjusted his strategy. He understands that trying to publicly back Trump into a corner or flatly contradicting him is a losing game that only risks pushing the US closer to Moscow’s position.

Instead, Zelenskyy is choosing to lower the temperature, speak the language of “prospects and deals,” and keep Trump personally invested. By framing American leadership as the decisive factor that can bring about a “real prospect to end this war,” Zelenskyy is appealing directly to Trump’s desire to be the ultimate dealmaker.

It’s a masterclass in pragmatic diplomacy: you don’t have to agree with someone privately to recognize that, publicly, you absolutely need to keep them on your side of the ledger. For Ukraine, managing the relationship with Washington is just as critical as managing the front line in Donetsk, and Zelenskyy is doing everything he can to ensure that line doesn’t break.

Zelenskyy is playing the diplomatic hand he has been dealt, keeping lines of communication open and maintaining professional decorum to protect his country’s vital strategic relationships. But a polite, diplomatic phone call on a holiday weekend doesn’t rewrite the reality of the situation.

As long as Russian missiles are actively targeting Ukrainian towns, as long as innocent Ukrainians are dying, and as long as the political rhetoric remains highly unpredictable, keeping the skepticism front and center is the only rational approach. History has shown too many times what happens when people celebrate a diplomatic victory before the ink is even dry – or before the actual intent matches the friendly words. It’s a long game, and it’s far too early to assume anyone’s position is locked in.

Zelenskyy still must keep his eyes peeled and his guns primed.

Warsaw’s Imbecilic Squabble with Kyiv is more Dangerous than History

Poland’s unexpected, imbecilic squabble with Ukraine about who killed who first comes at a very dangerous time and could lead to a widening of Moscow’s war with Ukraine, more bloodshed, and the introduction of Warsaw into the bloody carnage.

Someone, likely Russians or one of their for-hire associates, has goaded Polish President Karol Nawrocki into insulting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian nation by raising questionable information about events during World War Two.

I’m not suggesting that that history should be swept under the carpet but now certainly isn’t the time to engage in an emotional tirade about who killed whom first.

If these words and insults escalate into bullets and blood, then only Russia will benefit. The recent report about Russian false flag operations against Poland is a case in point.

The Telegraph, a newspaper in England, and Polish news outlet Onet have confirmed that US intelligence recently passed multiple warnings to Warsaw regarding a potential Russian armed provocation.  Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz have publicly addressed these reports, stating that Poland is preparing “very intensively” for these exact security scenarios.  

Intelligence suggests a hybrid or armed provocation could be launched on Poland’s soil (or against the Baltic states) within the coming months. The main objective is Moscow’s primary calculation to test NATO’s resolve and cohesion. By creating a crisis, Russia hopes to pressure Western allies into scaling back or suspending military aid to Ukraine. 

The plan would call for targeted drone strikes or sabotage against critical Polish infrastructure, such as power plants. This would simulate a massive air attack to force Poland to activate its air defense networks. This would then be followed by limited, localized ground incursions across the border from either Belarus or the Kaliningrad exclave.

According to the intelligence, Russia would likely use “plausible deniability” or deception to manage the fallout of a ground or airspace breach. This would also portray a “false flag” incident as a provocation carried out by Ukrainian forces using fabricated markers. 

Polish officials are urging the public to remain calm while treating the intelligence with extreme seriousness. Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz noted that low-level hybrid provocations (like cyberattacks and airspace violations) are already happening daily, which is why Poland has fast-tracked the largest rearmament program in its modern history.

Meanwhile, neighboring Baltic defense ministries have also noted that while a large-scale conventional military invasion is not imminent due to Russian forces being heavily tied down in Ukraine, the threat of high-impact sabotage and border provocations remains at an all-time high.

With its near abroad escalating a squabble to a hot battle, Russia will send in its armies to put out the flames of war for its benefit.

And Russia wins again because of a squabble. Let’s be smarter.

Trump Urges ‘Senseless Killing’ in Ukraine to End

President Donald Trump wants a peace deal to end the “senseless killing” in Ukraine, an Administration official said Thursday, July 2, after the latest massive Russian barrage on Kyiv killed at least 21 people.

“President Trump has a humanitarian heart and wants this war settled so the senseless killing ends,” the official told Agence France-Presse (AFP) in response to a question on the Russian attack.

“The President and his team have worked very hard to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, and he remains optimistic that we’ll ultimately get a peace deal done.”

Trump said before his return to office last year that he could solve the Ukraine war within 24 hours, but US efforts to broker a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv have so far failed. Among the reasons why he has failed so far are that he fails to comprehend the cause of this war, he favors Russia more than the victim Ukraine, and he refuses to give Ukraine all of the weapons it needs to vanquish Russia.

The Trump has railed against the cost of military aid for Kyiv and famously berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office in February 2025, accusing him of lacking the cards to wage a winning war against Russia. What a difference 17 months have made.

In contrast, Trump has taken a largely friendly tone toward Putin, although he has shown mounting frustration with the Russian furor’s refusal to end the war.

Zelenskyy on Thursday, July 2, called on allies to discuss speeding up air-defense aid for his war-torn country at the NATO summit in Ankara next week, which Trump will attend. 

‘Night of Horror’ – Just as Promised, Russia Hits Ukraine with Massive Airborne Barrage

Just as Russia had promised and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned, Moscow fulfilled its pledge to rain hellfire and brimstone on Ukrainian cities. Apparently, the previous two days’ airborne assaults were just dry runs.

Waves of Russian missiles and strike drones pounded Kyiv overnight on July 2, just hours after Zelenskyy again warned that Russia was preparing more large-scale attacks against Ukraine.

At least 21 people have been killed, Kyiv City Military Administration Head Tymur Tkachenko said. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service  (DSNS) added that search and rescue operations were ongoing at several sites including a partially collapsed multi-story residential building in the Darnitskyi neighborhood. The death toll is expected to rise further.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said it was a “night of horror” in the capital, which had a pre-war population of roughly 3 million people.

Later on July 2, despite widespread destruction and civilian casualties, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov repeated Moscow’s well-known lies that Russian forces had targeted only “military or quasi-military targets,” adding that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had been briefed on the attack.

According to the latest reports from the ground this morning, the bombardment was one of the most massive and coordinated aerial onslaughts the capital has faced. Russia launched an overwhelming barrage of 74 missiles (including 24 ballistic missiles) and nearly 500 long-range strike drones, intentionally overwhelming air defenses to strike civilian centers. 

The toll is catastrophic and still rising as emergency crews dig through the rubble. At least 21 people have been confirmed dead in Kyiv alone, with over 86 injured – 70 of whom require urgent hospitalization. 

Widespread destruction was visible throughout. Damage has been recorded across all 10 districts of Kyiv on both sides of the Dnipro River. Direct hits and falling debris have struck over 20 residential buildings, including the partial collapse of multi-story apartment blocks in the Darnytskyi and Desnianskyi districts, a hotel on a central boulevard, a research institute, and an ambulance station. 

Other regions of Ukraine were also hit. While Kyiv bore the brunt of the “night of horror,” explosions and casualties have also been reported in several other regions, including the Bucha district and infrastructure nodes in Dnipro, where residential areas were also heavily impacted. 

President Zelenskyy, who cut short a diplomatic visit to Ireland after intelligence warned of the imminent “Goliath” assault, emphasized that this brutal targeting of civilians is a terror tactic aimed at intimidation. Meanwhile, the Kremlin continues its transparent and cynical rhetoric, claiming they only targeted “military or quasi-military” infrastructure, even as footage shows burning apartment buildings and families huddled on subway platforms.  The resilience of the Ukrainian people taking shelter in the metro stations overnight is awe-inspiring, but days like today underscore the profound, urgent cost of delayed air defense systems.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko put the number of injured at 86, 70 of whom had been hospitalized, and described the attack as the “most massive” of the war on the capital. Two of the injured are children, DSNS said.

“It was a terrible night for Kyiv,” Klitschko said, adding there was “damage in all districts of the city.”

He declared tomorrow, July 3, a Day of Mourning in the capital. 

Speaking to journalists afterward, Zelenskyy observed, “Putin is losing this war. That’s what’s happening. He understands that the only thing he can do is intimidate people and simply kill civilians with missile strikes.”

Speaking to journalists later at the site of a Russian strike in Kyiv’s Darnytskyi district, Zelenskyy said Russia’s attack exposed Ukraine’s continuing shortage of air defense interceptors.

“If our partners had delivered what they promised on time, I think we could have saved more homes and, frankly, more lives,” he said.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine would need at least 140 Patriot missiles to intercept an attack involving around 70 ballistic missiles, arguing that Kyiv was not asking for additional commitments but for previously agreed military assistance to be delivered.

Kyiv’s metro sheltered a record 52,500 people, including nearly 4,500 children, during Russia’s overnight attack, the Kyiv Metro said on Telegram. All 46 underground stations served as bomb shelters during the air raid. Many residents also sheltered in underground parking garages.

“The moment we stepped out of the underground parking garage, a ballistic missile struck,” Hanna Polishchuk, who lives in the residential building next to the one that partially collapsed in the Darnitskyi District, told the Kyiv Independent.  

“Everyone immediately ran back inside. There was complete panic. There was such an enormous explosion. It felt as though the whole parking garage was about to collapse, like everything around us was falling apart.”

The Ukrainian Air Force had warned that groups of Russian drones were approaching Kyiv and other cities, including Mykolaiv, Konotop, and Kherson. About an hour later, it reported additional waves of drones moving toward the capital.

The attacks on Moscow, combined with Ukraine’s increasingly successful operation against Russian logistics in Crimea, have undermined Putin’s claims of battlefield victory — and possibly his grip on power in the Kremlin.

Elsewhere, smaller Russian attacks against Ukraine persisted over the previous 24 hours Zelenskyy said on July 1 that Ukraine had been under Russia’s air attacks “all day.”

In southern Kherson Oblast, 3 people were killed in Russian attacks across various settlements over the past day, 45 were injured, including three children, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on July 2.

In the northeastern Kharkiv Oblast, two people were killed, 48 were injured in Russian attacks across the region, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said on July 2.

The city of Kharkiv was hit the hardest in the Kharkiv Oblast, as a 15-year-old boy was killed, and 32 civilians were injured in a Russian daytime attack on the city on July 1, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported. Terekhov said the city was attacked with seven glide bombs.

In Odesa Oblast, two people were killed, and 13 were injured following a ballistic missile strike on the region on June 1, Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported. The attack destroyed two warehouses, the agency added.

In eastern Donetsk Oblast, one person was killed, 10 were injured in Russian attacks, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

In northeastern Sumy Oblast, seven people were injured in Russian attacks, the regional military administration reported.

In Russian attacks on Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, four people were injured over the past day, Governor Oleksandr Hanzha reported on July 1 and July 2.

In southeastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast, three people were injured in Russia's attacks on the region and the city of Zaporizhzhia, Governor Ivan Fedorov said.

Ukraine’s frequent attacks inside Russia, described by Zelenskyy as a 40-day assault, have especially targeted oil refineries, causing a fuel crisis that has frustrated Russians already feeling the war’s economic toll.

World leaders condemned the latest attack and called for increased pressure on Russia through stronger military support for Ukraine and tougher sanctions.

Dutch Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius said Putin’s “atrocities know no bounds” and argued that peace could only be achieved by strengthening Ukraine. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas pledged to propose additional sanctions targeting those supporting Russia's military-industrial complex. Moldovan President Maia Sandu also called for greater pressure on Moscow and stronger support for Ukraine.

European Union Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernovam, who is currently in Kyiv, described the overnight attack as “hell on Kyiv” in a post on social media. She said residents spent the night in bomb shelters as large parts of the city appeared to be on fire, and warned that the death toll was likely to rise.

Kharkiv, in the East, some 19 miles from the Russian border, has been under a brutal, unrelenting siege over the past 24 to 48 hours, absorbing a distinct and terrifying wave of attacks alongside the broader nationwide onslaught. 

While Kyiv was targeted primarily with long-range cruise and ballistic missiles, Russia has been systematically devastating Kharkiv using a combination of guided glide bombs (KABs) and an increasingly aggressive use of FPV (first-person view) strike drones targeting local neighborhoods. 

In the Kharkiv region, five people, among them a child, were injured after Russian drone attacks struck homes, farms, and other civilian sites. In the Kyiv region, two people were wounded as Russian strikes damaged businesses and civilian infrastructure. In the Dnipro region, Russian attacks hit five districts, injuring two people. Russia also targeted the Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and Cherkasy regions.

Military observers have detected a dangerous shift in Russian tactics against Ukraine. Local authorities, including Mayor Ihor Terekhov and regional police chief Petro Tokar, have warned of a highly targeted escalation this summer. Russia is weaponizing the city’s proximity to the border by deploying low-altitude FPV drones into civilian sectors that were previously outside their usual range:

Thirty-four FPV drone strikes have successfully penetrated the city limits this year—with 29 of those occurring since May alone. These cheap, highly maneuverable strike drones are actively hunting on a micro-level, intentionally hitting civilian cars, delivery vehicles, and residential doorsteps primarily in Northern Saltivka and the Shevchenkivskyi district. Local ambulance crews have even had to petition for specialized electronic warfare jamming equipment just to protect themselves from being targeted while responding to hit sites. 

In total, across June alone, Kharkiv endured 142 distinct attacks, resulting in 12 deaths and 122 civilian injuries. Despite the daily terror, the city continues to stubbornly rebuild its shattered residential blocks and maintain its underground schools, refusing to empty out.

Russia continues to deliberately strike homes and families. Pressure on Russia must increase, and Ukraine must receive the air defense it urgently needs to protect lives. My thoughts are entirely with the victims, their families, and everyone enduring this terror. The free world, NATO, Europe must stand up and vanquish the evil empire that is Russia. 

Kyiv Hit again the Next Day

Russian forces again attacked Kyiv on July 2 with drones and ‌missiles overnight local time, injuring five as they ⁠hit residential buildings and triggering a fire in a hotel on a central boulevard.

Emergency services work at the site of a strike on a residential building during a night of Russian missile and drone strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, writing on Telegram, said the hotel roof was on fire. ‌Pictures posted online showed a fire burning out of control at the top ‌of the building on ‌the central Shevchenko Boulevard.

In a later post on Telegram, Klitschko said Kyiv also came ‌under ballistic missile attack, with five people injured in one of ‌the central districts. Multiple explosions were heard in Kyiv, ‌a witness told Reuters.

People were trapped in a damaged ⁠nine-story residential building and a roof of another high-rise apartment building was on fire, Klitschko added.

Other pictures on ⁠unofficial Telegram channels showed residents crowding into ‌underground stations.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earlier warned that intelligence reports showed an overnight attack on the country ⁠was likely and said he was ⁠cutting short his stay in Dublin, which he visited for ⁠the start of Ireland's six-month term in charge of ‌the ⁠rotating presidency of the European Union.

Kyiv Hit by Massive Drone Attack

A wave of Russian drones and ballistic missiles hit Kyiv late Tuesday, June 30, sparking fires in a central district and sending residents into air raid shelters hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of an imminent mass attack, according to Ukrainian news media.

Kyiv’s air defense units engaged Russian targets on the approaches to the city as officials warned that the assault could unfold in several waves perhaps over a few days.

Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi neighborhood was hit by falling debris during the attack.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the roof of a three-story non-residential building caught fire, with emergency services working at the scene.

Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, later reported a separate fire at a hotel in the same district as a result of the attack.

In the Desnianskyi district, drone debris fell near a private home. Officials said no fire was reported there.

The drone incursion escalated into a combined aerial assault after midnight, when Ukrainian officials warned of a ballistic missile threat.

“Stay in shelters!” Tkachenko urged residents.

At 1:53 a.m., Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russian ballistic missiles were heading toward Kyiv from the north.

Tkachenko said Russian drones were entering Kyiv from several directions, warning that the attack could unfold in several stages. He also cautioned that a wider combined attack remained possible in the coming days.

The overnight strikes came hours after Zelenskyy said Ukrainian intelligence had detected Russian preparations for a major attack.

Speaking during an official visit to Ireland on Tuesday, the Ukrainian president urged citizens to take air raid alerts seriously and use shelters.

“We know that Putin has been preparing this massive strike against Ukraine for some time,” Zelenskyy said, warning that the threat could materialize overnight.

The president said Moscow’s continued attacks show that the Kremlin is not seeking to end the war despite repeated diplomatic outreach.

One remaining question is if this was massive aerial attack that Zelenskyy said would materialize any day.