Russia pounds Kyiv with largest drone attack, hours after Trump-Putin call
Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine's Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.
Families huddled in underground metro stations for shelter and acrid smoke hung over the city centre. Kyiv's military administration chief said on Friday afternoon a body had been found in the wreckage of one of the strike sites.
Outside a high-rise apartment block damaged by a drone, residents stood around surveying the scene as the clean-up job began. Some cried. Others looked on silently.
"I woke up to the sound of explosions, first the Shahed drones started buzzing, and then the explosions began," said 40-year-old resident Maria Hilchenko. "Then people started screaming outside. The explosions from the Shaheds kept coming." Shahed drones are an Iranian design, a variant of which is now manufactured in Russia.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Let boAt bring the cinema home
Boat
Buy Now
Undo
President Zelensky called the attack "deliberately massive and cynical", noting the first sirens blared as news came in of Putin and Trump's call.
Later on Friday Zelensky spoke to Trump and the pair agreed to work on increasing Kyiv's capability to "defend the sky". He added they discussed joint defence production, as well as joint purchases and investments. The US has paused some deliveries of missiles amid concerns about low stockpiles.
US outlet Axios reported, citing unnamed sources, that the call lasted around 40 min, and that Trump told Zelensky he would check what US weapons due to be sent to Ukraine, if any, had been put on hold.
Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv's 10 districts. Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said a Chinese component had been found in one of the Shahed drones attacking Kyiv.
Russian airstrikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks. Russia's defence ministry said drone factories, a military airfield and an oil refinery were among targets it struck in Kyiv with what it called high-precision weapons. Ukraine did not give details.
Trump said that the call with Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, and the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict's "root causes". The decision by Washington to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes. Germany said it is in talks on buying Patriot air defence systems to bridge the gap.
(This is a Reuters story)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scroll.in
27 minutes ago
- Scroll.in
India does not enter trade deals based on deadlines: Piyush Goyal on negotiations with US
India does not enter into trade deals based on deadlines, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday amid ongoing negotiations between India and the United States, PTI reported. 'We only agree to a trade deal when it is done properly, is completely finalised and is in the national interest,' he said while addressing reporters on the sidelines of an event in New Delhi. The minister added that India was also in talks for trade agreements with several other countries, including the European Union, New Zealand, Oman, Chile and Peru, CNBC-TV18 reported. 'Free trade agreements are only possible when both sides benefit,' Goyal said. 'It should be a win-win agreement. If a good deal can be finalised while securing Indian interests, India is always willing to enter into deals with developed countries.' As India's trade delegation returns from the US, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal emphasised, "India never negotiates trade deals with a deadline." Despite continued discussions, key differences persist, particularly over agriculture & dairy access, though both sides remain hopeful… — CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18News) July 4, 2025 His remarks came as India and the US were negotiating a trade deal amid the 90-day suspension of tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump that is set to end on July 9. On June 30, the White House had said that the deal was close to being finalised and would be announced soon. Commenting on Goyal's statement, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi remarked: 'Piyush Goyal can beat his chest all he wants, mark my words, Modi will meekly bow to the Trump tariff deadline.' Piyush Goyal can beat his chest all he wants, mark my words, Modi will meekly bow to the Trump tariff deadline. — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 5, 2025 Trump's so-called reciprocal tariffs imposed on several countries, including a 26% 'discounted' levy on India, took effect on April 9. Hours later, however, Trump had reduced the rates on imports from most countries to 10% for 90 days to provide time for trade negotiations. The US president has repeatedly said that he intended to impose a reciprocal tax on India, among others, citing high tariffs the countries impose on foreign goods. The tariffs had led to concerns of a broader trade war that could disrupt the global economy and trigger recession. New Delhi on Friday proposed to impose retaliatory tariffs against the US under the norms of the World Trade Organization over Washington's so-called safeguard duties on automobile imports from India. India notified the international organisation's Council for Trade in Goods of its proposed suspension of concessions and other obligations under WTO provisions. This came after Washington on March 26 had decided to levy a 25% tariff, in proportion to the estimated value of the goods, on imports of passenger vehicles, light trucks and select automobile parts from India. The duties were to take effect on May 3, The Indian Express reported.
India.com
31 minutes ago
- India.com
10 times bigger than the Pentagon, spread over 1,500 acres, China building 'Beijing Military City' under..., big tension for US due to...
10 times bigger than the Pentagon, spread over 1,500 acres, China building 'Beijing Military City' under..., big tension for US due to... People often say that trying to understand China is like trying to measure the height of a mountain hidden in fog, you can't see much, but you know it is massive. China isn't just a country, it's a mysterious world filled with modern technology, silent strength, and secret planning. China believes in winning the battle before the war even begins. Its strategy is simple: don't show anything, but do a lot behind the scenes. And right now, China is quietly building something underground that has caught the attention of the world. There are no signboards, no official names, and no public maps. But satellite images don't lie. They have revealed something strange being built just outside Beijing and it doesn't look like a normal city. It feels more like a scene from a spy thriller movie. What's being built beneath 1,500 acres of land in China? This hidden area covers about 1,500 acres. No drones are allowed to fly over it. No one is allowed to take pictures. And if you get close, the guards simply say, 'Go away, there's nothing here.' But if there's really nothing, then why so much digging underground? Why are global intelligence agencies calling it the 'Doomsday Fortress'? Experts believe that China is building a massive underground bunker, much larger than even US's Pentagon. It is being called the 'Beijing Military City.' A satellite imagery time lapse of a new Chinese military command center under construction near Beijing, first reported by @Dimi. The facility is on track to be ten times larger than the Pentagon, according to US officials. — Brady Africk (@bradyafr) January 31, 2025 China building a 'Doomsday Bunker' beneath Beijing China's military, the People's Liberation Army (PLA), is building a massive underground complex in western Beijing, which U.S. intelligence agencies believe could be a wartime command center. According to American officials and intelligence experts, this secret site is spread across at least 1,500 acres and may be up to 10 times larger than the Pentagon.
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Vijay declared TVK's chief ministerial candidate for the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Actor-turned-politician Vijay has officially been named the Chief Ministerial candidate of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The decision was formalized through a special resolution passed during the party's State Executive Committee meeting held at the TVK headquarters in Chennai. As reported by NDTV, the meeting, presided over by Vijay himself, also set in motion plans for a large-scale state conference to be held next month. Vijay's work front On the other hand, Vijay is all set for his most-awaited film, 'Jana Nayagan,' which is directed by H. Vinoth. Recently, the makers shared the teaser for 'Jana Nayagan,' which received good responses from the audience. Priyamani on Vijay's final film, 'Jana Nayagan': "I hope it's not his last." Actress Priyamani, who plays a pivotal role in the film, recently shared her admiration for Vijay. 'I'm super excited to share screen space with Vijay… I hope this isn't his last film,' she said in an interview as reported by the Wionews website. Mamitha Baiju reveals whether 'Jana Nayagan' will be Vijay's last film Jana Nayagan - Official Teaser During a recent interaction at the Kerala Carnival in Ireland, Mamitha Baiju, who plays a pivotal role in 'Jana Nayagan,' said, "I just asked him whether 'Jana Nayagan' would truly be his last outing. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo by Taboola by Taboola Vijay Sir responded by saying that it all depends on how elections go. He also said that we'll see what happens.' 'Jana Nayagan' features a stellar cast including Bobby Deol, Pooja Hegde, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prakash Raj, Narain, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, and Mamitha Baiju. On the other hand, Vijay's previous outing was the action flick 'GOAT,' which unfortunately failed to impress the audiences.
