Putin orders largest drone strike on Ukraine after call with Trump
Washington – Russian dictator Vladimir Putin ordered the largest drone strike on Ukraine in a month on Monday night, just after ending a call with President Trump to discuss peace efforts.
Despite the progress made towards ending Russia’s war on Ukraine during White House meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders, Moscow launched 270 drones and 10 missiles into Ukraine’s territory.
This strike followed a previous attack that resulted in the deaths of at least 14 civilians and over 50 injuries. Among the victims were an entire family, including two children aged one and 15, their parents, and grandmother, in Kharkiv.
The Ukrainian government reported the devastating loss, with a neighbor recounting the tragic incident in tears, describing it as an assault on an ordinary residential compound.
The death toll in Ukraine has now reached nearly 13,000 civilians, including 569 children, since the Russian invasion in February 2022, according to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office.
This toll, which is more than four times the civilian casualties of the September 11 attacks, highlights the severity of the ongoing conflict.
Despite Putin’s claims of readiness for peace, the recent drone strike has raised doubts about his sincerity. Zelensky’s top advisor labeled Putin as a “professional liar” for his actions following talks with Trump.
While Trump has expressed frustration in the past over Putin’s aerial attacks after promising peace, he has yet to comment on the latest strike.
July marked the deadliest month since the start of Putin’s war on Ukraine, with a record number of civilian casualties. The escalating violence has seen a surge in drone launches and civilian deaths, with attacks not only near the front lines but also in urban areas.
As the conflict continues to escalate, the impact on innocent civilians remains a grave concern, with the need for international intervention and efforts towards peace becoming more urgent than ever.
