President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Russia’s claimed support for a ceasefire in Ukraine, citing overnight missile and drone attacks that targeted multiple regions, including a hospital in Sumy. He argued that Moscow’s actions prove its peace commitments are not real.
The strikes came just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to halt attacks on energy infrastructure as part of ongoing peace efforts.
“Now in many regions, you can literally hear what Russia really needs,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram, referencing the 40 Shahed drones detected overnight. “Air defense is working,” he added, but acknowledged that civilian infrastructure had been hit.
“It is precisely these night attacks that destroy our energy sector and our way of life,” Zelenskyy said. “And the fact that tonight was no exception shows that we must continue to pressure Russia for the sake of peace.”
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched six missiles and 145 drones overnight. Seventy-two drones were shot down, while another 56 crashed without causing damage. Sumy, Odesa, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, and Chernihiv were among the hardest-hit regions.
Following the attacks, Zelenskyy accused Putin of rejecting a complete ceasefire proposal, calling on the international community to recognize Russia’s tactics to prolong the war.
“Sanctions against Russia. Aid to Ukraine. Strengthening allies in the free world. These are the necessary steps,” he said. “Only a real cessation of Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure will prove a true commitment to peace.”
While Moscow insists it ordered a halt to strikes on energy infrastructure, hours later, Russian officials reported a drone attack on an oil depot in Krasnodar Krai’s Kavkazsky district.
Local authorities confirmed a fire broke out at the depot after debris from the attack damaged a pipeline between tanks, spreading flames across 18,000 square feet. Emergency services were deployed, with 179 personnel and 54 fire units working to contain the blaze.
Though no casualties were reported, 30 workers were evacuated, and operations were suspended.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 57 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Meanwhile, Russia’s federal air transport agency, Rosaviatsia, temporarily halted operations at airports in Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, and Nizhnekamsk. Officials did not specify the reason, though Russian airports frequently suspend flights during Ukrainian drone attacks.
The Kremlin described Trump and Putin’s call as a “detailed and frank exchange”, but confirmed Putin did not agree to the full 30-day ceasefire proposed by the U.S. and Ukraine. Instead, the Russian president framed a ceasefire as more beneficial to Ukraine’s military than to peace efforts.
Despite agreeing to halt energy infrastructure attacks, Russia’s overnight strikes and Ukraine’s counterattacks raise doubts over the credibility of the truce. With both sides continuing military operations, the path to lasting peace remains uncertain.
