Russia hammered Ukrainian cities with hundreds of drones overnight, prompting Kyiv to call for harsher sanctions against Moscow.
Ukrainian authorities said Russia launched about 728 drones Tuesday night, a record for Russian attacks. Nearly all of the drones were destroyed by Ukraine’s air defense systems, either with ballistics or electronic jamming software.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the city of Lutsk took the brunt of Russia’s attack, with 10 other provinces also coming under attack. Lutsk authorities reported the attacks damaged civilian infrastructure but did not result in any casualties.
Lutsk is less than 150 miles from the Polish border. The attacks worried Polish authorities, who scrambled several jets to ensure airspace security.
Mr. Zelenskyy used the strikes to again call for further sanctions on Russia’s sources of income.
“Sanctions are needed — painful sanctions against oil, which has been pumping money into Moscow’s war machine for over three years of war,” he posted on Telegram. “Secondary sanctions against those who buy this oil and sponsor the killings. The partners know how to put pressure on Russia so that it will be forced to think about ending the war, not new strikes.”
The attacks follow President Trump’s promise to deliver more military aid to Ukraine, despite a Pentagon order calling for a limited pause. Mr. Zelenskyy confirmed Tuesday that he had ordered an extension of Ukraine’s military contracts with the U.S. to ensure the delivery of aid.
Mr. Trump said this week that he would support a Senate bill that would slap 500% tariffs on nations that purchase Russian oil and natural gas. The president’s commitment follows uncharacteristically critical comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“He’s very nice all the time but it turns out to be meaningless,” Mr. Trump said Tuesday of the Russian leader during a Cabinet meeting.
