An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over the city during a Russian drone and missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 4, 2025. /REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over the city during a Russian drone and missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 4, 2025. /REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
Ukraine faced overnight what President Zelenskyy has called the "biggest ever" attack on Kyiv.
550 Russian drones and missiles were fired with 475 them intercepted, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said.
Reuters witnesses reported explosions and sustained heavy machine-gun fire as air defense units defended the capital.
1 person was killed, and 23 were wounded, as strikes damaged apartment blocks, rail facilities and schools, according to Kyiv's officials.
The Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said that the consular section of the Polish embassy was also damaged as a result of the overnight strikes by Russia, though no staff were injured.
This afternoon, U.S. President Donald Trump held a call with Zelenskyy, during which the pair discussed air defense and had a "detailed conversation" about joint defense production, Zelenskyy said on X.
The strikes come amid a reported halt on U.S. arms supply to Ukraine.
"I just didn't make any progress with him at all"
"Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin," Zelenskyy said on X.
During the call Trump "raised the issue of ending the hostilities as soon as possible."
Putin said that Russia "would strive to achieve" and "not back down from its goals", according to comments relayed by presidential aid Yuri Ushakov published by the Kremlin.
After the call, the U.S. president is quoted by the New York Times as having said to reporters "I just didn't make any progress with him (Putin) at all."
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin are seen during the G20 leaders summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina November 30, 2018. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin are seen during the G20 leaders summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina November 30, 2018. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci
Calls waiting, arms on hold
The strikes come after the U.S. reportedly halted arms shipments to Ukraine earlier this week.
Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Sean Parnell said on Wednesday that the US Department of Defense "paused" weapons shipments to Ukraine to conduct a "capability review" to ensure that U.S. military aid aligns with the DoD's defense priorities while preserving US military readiness.
When asked for clarification on the pause, he said: "I can't go into detail about what weapons were paused and when and what we're providing and when. Ultimately, the president and the secretary will make those decisions".
Speaking to reporters as he left Washington for Iowa, Trump said "we haven't" completely paused the flow of weapons but blamed his predecessor, Joe Biden, for sending so many weapons that it risked weakening U.S. defenses.
According to NBC, the weapons include Patriot missiles, several thousand 155mm artillery shells, over 250 GMLRS rockets, more than 100 Hellfire missiles as well as dozens of Stinger surface-to-air missiles, AIM air-to-air missiles, and grenade launchers. The U.S. Institute for the Study of War's claims that only the United States can supply critical air defense systems at scale and speed.
The move appeared to take Ukraine by surprise. On Wednesday, its Foreign Ministry summoned the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires. "Any delay or procrastination in supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities will only encourage the aggressor to continue the war and terror, rather than seek peace," the ministry said in a statement.
FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on arming Ukraine, after touring a Lockheed Martin weapons factory in Troy, Alabama, U.S. May 3, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on arming Ukraine, after touring a Lockheed Martin weapons factory in Troy, Alabama, U.S. May 3, 2022. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Ukraine strikes Russian top brass
The deputy commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, Mikhail Gudkov, was killed in combat in Kursk Oblast, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Thursday.
Russian air defenses shot down or intercepted 48 Ukrainian drones across five regions overnight, the country's Defense Ministry reported on Thursday.
Ukrainian media reported that the strike in Azov targeted the Azov Optical and Mechanical Plant.
In the Moscow region's Sergiev Posad district, four Ukrainian drones crashed early Friday morning, injuring two civilians, according to Governor Andrey Vorobyov. District head Oksana Yerokhanova reported that the drones damaged a substation, leaving at least five neighborhoods in Sergiev Posad without power.
Prisoner exchanges and more talks
Zelenskyy announced today that a further exchange of an unspecified number of Ukrainian and Russian prisoners has been completed.
Kremlin spokesperson Peskov said Putin told Trump he expected a date "soon" for a third round of Russia-Ukraine talks, following earlier talks in May and June.