Ukraine faced one of its most intense bombardments in recent weeks as Russia unleashed a massive overnight strike involving hundreds of drones and missiles across western regions of the country, according to Ukrainian authorities.
The assault struck multiple regions including Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Lviv, resulting in at least one fatality and several injuries. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha characterized the attacks as evidence of the urgent need for enhanced diplomatic initiatives and strengthened air defense systems.
Peace Summit Discussions Gain Momentum
The bombardment coincided with renewed diplomatic activity, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky floated Switzerland, Austria, and Turkey as potential host nations for peace negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. These discussions follow a recent trilateral diplomatic engagement mediated by the United States, which included Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska and subsequent White House talks with Zelensky and European leaders.
Zelensky has expressed openness to meeting Putin “in any format,” while Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto proposed Budapest as an alternative summit location. However, Hungary’s proposal may face skepticism given Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s historically close relationship with Moscow and previous resistance to EU support for Ukraine.
Military Developments and Strategic Concerns
Speaking to reporters Thursday morning, Zelensky avoided addressing Hungary’s venue offer but revealed his request for Trump to pressure Hungary regarding Ukraine’s EU membership negotiations. The Ukrainian president reported that Trump pledged his administration’s support on this matter.
Zelensky also highlighted concerning military movements, noting Russian troop concentrations along the southern front in Zaporizhzhia—one of four Ukrainian regions Russia claims to have annexed. He observed that Russian forces were redistributing troops from the Kursk region to strengthen their Zaporizhzhia positions.
Scale of the Attack
Ukrainian air defense forces documented 614 aerial vehicles in the overnight assault, successfully intercepting 577 of them. Foreign Minister Sybiha detailed that the attack employed a diverse arsenal including drones, hypersonic missiles, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles.
The strikes caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure, with Sybiha noting that one missile hit a major American electronics manufacturing facility in Ukraine’s westernmost region, causing substantial damage and casualties.
