Ukraine war: Russia attacks almost all of the country

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed during an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity that U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to grant the Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot anti-missile systems. This statement came after a closed-door meeting between the two leaders at the White House, which lasted approximately one hour. According to Zelenskyy, the discussion focused on strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities against Russian missile attacks. He emphasized the need for these licenses to accelerate the production of much-needed defensive missiles, which have become increasingly scarce due to global shortages exacerbated by the U.S. conflict with Iran. The conversation took place amid heightened tensions following recent escalations in the war. Earlier in the week, Zelenskyy had warned of an imminent large-scale aerial assault by Russia, citing reports from Ukrainian air force officials. His warnings proved accurate as the night before the interview saw widespread rocket and drone attacks across nearly all regions of Ukraine. These strikes overwhelmed local air defenses and caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and homes. During his interview with Hannity, Zelenskyy described the meeting with Trump as “very good.” However, he did not provide specific details on whether any formal agreements were reached regarding the production licenses. The White House did not immediately respond to inquiries about the meeting. Trump, through his social media platform Truth Social, stated that the meeting with Zelenskyy was “very good,” though he offered no further specifics. Zelenskyy reiterated his call for Western allies to supply modern Patriot systems to counter Russian ballistic missiles. He highlighted the critical shortage of ammunition for existing air defense systems, which has worsened due to global supply chain disruptions. The demand for these systems has grown more urgent as Russia continues its campaign of aerial bombardment, targeting both military and civilian sites. In response to recent incidents involving Russian drones violating Romanian airspace and the destruction of Latvia's honorary consulate in eastern Ukraine, the European Union summoned Russia’s chargé d'affaires in Brussels for discussions. The EU expressed strong condemnation of the deliberate violation of Romanian airspace by Russian drones, calling it a serious escalation that threatens regional stability and international peace. The incident involving the Latvian consulate, located in the frontline city of Slovyansk, was attributed to a precision-guided bomb used by Russian forces. The EU also indicated plans to consider additional sanctions against Russia’s military-industrial complex in the coming weeks. Recent attacks on Ukrainian territory have resulted in significant casualties and damage. In the southern city of Kryvyi Rih, a family home was struck by a missile, killing six people, including two children aged five and twelve. Eight others were injured. Reports from Kyiv and the Poltava region mentioned two fatalities and numerous injuries. Multiple buildings in Kyiv were hit, with witnesses describing multiple explosions throughout the night. In Lviv, near the Polish border, 15 people were injured, and fires broke out in two large residential blocks following missile impacts. Rescue teams searched through rubble for survivors. Poland, which shares a border with Ukraine, responded to the intensified Russian attacks by deploying fighter jets into the air. A mysterious flying object was spotted in Polish airspace, later identified as having crashed near the village of Tarnawa-Kolonia in the Lublin Voivodeship. The Polish military confirmed this finding via their online platform. Russia acknowledged the attacks but stated they targeted military objectives, including airfields, arms factories, military communication infrastructure, and logistics centers. Additionally, three cargo ships used for transporting military goods in the Black Sea region were reportedly hit. Meanwhile, Ukraine launched its own attacks on Russian targets, including another oil tanker in the port city of Novorossiysk along the Black Sea coast, according to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium. Russia’s defense ministry reported the interception of 258 Ukrainian drones.