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News Topical, Digital Desk : Russia launched a record 728 drone attacks on Ukraine overnight, just hours after US President Donald Trump pledged to send more defensive weapons to Kiev and sharply criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The attack was the latest in a series of escalating airstrikes in recent weeks, involving hundreds of drones in addition to ballistic missiles. The main target of the attack was the northwestern city of Lutsk. Apart from this, 10 other provinces were attacked.
Ukraine's western region is logistically crucial in the war
Lutsk has an airport used by the Ukrainian military. Cargo planes and fighter jets regularly fly over the city. Ukraine's western regions are a vital logistical backbone of the war, as airports and depots there receive vital foreign military aid before it is shipped to other parts of the country. The attack was an attempt to disrupt these supply corridors.
However, Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuri Ihnat said the military shot down almost all the drones, but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia caused damage. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack shows the need for tough sanctions on the sources Russia uses to finance the war, including those who buy Russian oil.
Strict sanctions on Russia are being considered
- Trump said on Tuesday he was considering supporting a bill that would impose tough sanctions on Russia, including 500 percent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports.
- When a reporter asked what action he would take against Putin, Trump said, "I won't tell you. We want a little surprise." In addition, Europe is working on a new sanctions package against Moscow. When Trump returned to power this year, he claimed that he would end the Ukraine war immediately.
- But preliminary rounds of talks to end the war between Russia and Ukraine have so far yielded no significant results. Moscow has not yet accepted the unconditional ceasefire proposed by Trump and accepted by Kiev.
- The US President's promise to provide more defensive weapons is a reversal of the Pentagon's decision a few days earlier to stop the supply of some crucial weapons to Ukraine.
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