Vladimir Putin may have finally lost it. And he’s going for broke.
Because Russia launched a massive missile attack that sent the US military into high gear.
Russia’s Ruthless Assault on Ukrainian Civilians
The grinding Russian invasion of Ukraine plunged into fresh savagery on Friday, as Moscow’s forces unleashed a barrage of advanced weaponry on defenseless cities, claiming lives and shattering infrastructure in a blatant display of unprovoked aggression.
Two Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles slammed into Sumy’s industrial district early Friday, with Russian strikes pummeling Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa as well. Debris from one assault even ravaged the Azerbaijani Embassy in Kyiv, underscoring the Kremlin’s reckless disregard for international norms. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky decried the nocturnal blitz, which deployed 430 drones and 18 missiles, slaughtering four innocents—including a pregnant woman—and wounding dozens more, many of them children.
“Since last night, our emergency services have been working at the sites of the Russian strikes,” Zelensky said in a post on X.
“A wicked attack – as of now, we know of dozens of wounded, including children and a pregnant woman. Sadly, four people have been killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones. About 430 drones and 18 missiles were used in the strike, including ballistic and aeroballistic missiles.”
“This was a deliberately calculated attack aimed at causing maximum harm to people and civilian infrastructure,” he added.
“In Kyiv alone, dozens of apartment buildings have been damaged. The Azerbaijani Embassy was hit by debris from an Iskander missile. The main target of the attack was Kyiv, and strikes also hit Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa regions. According to preliminary data, the Russians used a Zircon missile in the Sumy region this morning.”
Since last night, our emergency services have been working at the sites of the Russian strikes. A wicked attack – as of now, we know of dozens of wounded, including children and a pregnant woman. Sadly, four people have been killed. My condolences to their families and loved Show more
Ukraine’s Defiant Counter and Russian Disruptions
In a stark show of resolve amid the carnage, Zelensky highlighted Ukraine’s precision reprisals deep into aggressor territory, deploying homegrown “Long Neptune” missiles to cripple key Russian assets and erode the war machine fueled by Putin’s oil empire.
“Third, overnight our warriors successfully used ‘Long Neptunes’ against designated targets on Russian territory – and this is our entirely just response to Russia’s ongoing terror,” Zelensky said. “Ukrainian missiles are delivering increasingly significant and precise results virtually every month.”
On the same day, Russia’s state oil giant Transneft was forced to suspend pumping operations to the vital Black Sea port of Novorossiysk after a Ukrainian drone strike exposed the fragility of Moscow’s economic lifelines, per the Moscow Times. These Ukrainian strikes serve as a potent reminder that the Kremlin’s imperial ambitions come at a steep, self-inflicted cost.
Urgent Call to Cripple Putin’s War Chest
Despite valiant defenses, Zelensky warned that Ukraine’s lopsided fight against Russia’s overwhelming firepower demands urgent Western backing to neutralize the aerial terror raining down on civilians. He implored allies to unleash crippling sanctions on Russian energy sales and rush vital air defenses to tip the scales toward justice.
“Ukraine is responding to these strikes with long-range strength, and the world must stop these attacks on life with sanctions,” Zelensky said.
“Russia is still able to sell oil and build its schemes. All of this must end. A great deal of work is underway with partners to strengthen our air defense, but it is not enough. We need reinforcement with additional systems and interceptor missiles. Europe and the United States can help. We are counting on real decisions.”
