Kyiv in Flames After a Call That Changed Nothing

Thick, acrid smoke lingered over Kyiv on Friday, July 4, 2025, after a night of relentless Russian bombardment that struck nearly every district of the Ukrainian capital.

Authorities described the attack as one of the most intense in recent memory, marking a dramatic escalation in Russia’s ongoing campaign.

Throughout the night, Kyiv was rocked by the now all-too-familiar soundtrack of war: the sharp bursts of anti-aircraft fire, the whirring of incoming drones, and the thunderous blasts of explosions.

Ukraine’s military reported that Russia launched a staggering 550 drones, setting a new record, alongside 11 missiles in a coordinated, hours-long assault.

The timing of the barrage raised international concern.

The strikes occurred shortly after a phone conversation between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump later expressed frustration, stating he was “disappointed” that Putin showed no willingness to bring the war to an end.

Across the border in southern Russia, tragedy struck as well.

A woman was reportedly killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on a village near the Ukrainian frontier, according to the acting governor of the Rostov region.

Ukraine’s air force confirmed that 72 of the drones managed to bypass air defenses, surpassing the previous record of 537 launched in a single night.

Air raid sirens blared across Kyiv for more than eight hours as wave after wave of attacks targeted the capital, which officials described as the primary focus of the offensive.

Describing the night as one of the “worst” since the war began, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba condemned the attacks and called for immediate and severe international sanctions against Moscow.

“Absolutely horrible and sleepless night in Kyiv,” wrote Andrii Sybiha, a senior official in President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, on social media.

He noted that the strike’s timing, just after the Putin-Trump call, was not coincidental.

“Putin does it on purpose,” he added, accusing the Russian leader of deliberately disregarding appeals for peace from global powers.

Images shared by Ukraine’s emergency services showed firefighters battling intense blazes across the city.

Residential buildings, vehicles, and key infrastructure were damaged, including sections of the railway network.

Ukrainian officials reported that at least 23 people were injured in the strikes.

The attack was the latest in a growing series of large-scale air assaults by Russia in recent weeks.

These escalations come as hopes for ceasefire negotiations continue to fade, leaving Ukraine increasingly vulnerable to such devastating barrages.

Now well into its third year, the war—sparked by Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, shows no signs of abating.

Despite mounting international pressure, efforts to broker peace have largely stalled.

After his conversation with Putin, Trump acknowledged that no headway had been made.

“I’m very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin,” Trump told reporters.

“I don’t think he’s looking to stop, and that’s too bad.”

The Kremlin, meanwhile, repeated its stance that it would continue to pursue what it calls the “root causes” of the conflict.

President Putin recently reaffirmed his vision of Ukraine as inherently part of Russia’s sphere of influence, declaring,

“The whole of Ukraine is ours.”

Amid the rising tension, President Zelensky said he hoped to speak with Trump regarding the supply of U.S. military aid.

The conversation follows a controversial decision in Washington to pause shipments of some essential weapons to Ukraine.

It is a move that Kyiv warns could severely hamper its ability to defend itself against intensified Russian attacks.

Trump responded by downplaying the halt, insisting that weapons were still being provided.

Although he also criticized President Joe Biden for “emptying out” U.S. stockpiles to support Ukraine.

“We have to make sure we have enough for ourselves,” he said.

As both sides brace for what could be another grim chapter in the war, the international community watches with growing concern.

It is caught between diplomatic deadlock and the urgency of humanitarian crises unfolding on the ground.

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