- May 11, 2026
Russia unleashed a record-breaking drone attack on Ukraine in the early hours of Friday, leaving at least 23 people injured and damaging numerous buildings and residential areas. This extensive assault came just hours after US President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone, stating that "no progress" had been made on a ceasefire agreement.
Kyiv city and military authorities reported widespread damage from the continuous 13-hour attack. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched a total of 539 drones, of which 476 were successfully shot down. Additionally, 11 cruise and ballistic missiles were fired.
As explosions and the hum of drones reverberated across the city in the predawn hours, thousands of residents spent the night in shelters, including metro stations and underground parking lots.
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the night as "an absolutely horrible and sleepless night for Kyiv," calling it "one of the worst nights yet." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy termed the attack "one of the most massive aerial attacks" on the country.
Zelenskyy further remarked, "Yesterday, as air raid sirens began blaring simultaneously across our cities and regions, reports of the Trump-Putin phone call appeared in the news almost concurrently. This once again proves that Russia has no intention of stopping this war and terror."
The Russian assault ignited fires in buildings and structures across various Ukrainian cities. Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported that parts of several multi-story buildings were destroyed in the attacks. A section of Kyiv's railway system was also damaged, and five ambulances responding to aid the injured were hit.
Notably, Russia has been conducting nightly drone and missile attacks on Ukraine almost daily for the past few weeks.