Latest news with #KyivDay
International Business Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- International Business Times
Putin's Helicopter Came Under Ukrainian Drone Attack During His Trip to Disputed Kursk Region, Kremlin Admits
Ukrainian drones targeted Russian President Vladimir Putin's helicopter during his recent visit to the disputed Kursk region last week, the Kremlin has admitted. Yury Dashkin, commander of an air defense unit, said on Sunday that Putin's helicopter came under attack from Kyiv's drone strike while he was touring the reclaimed Russian territory on May 20, according to state news outlet TASS. Dashkin said that the helicopter was "virtually at the epicenter of repelling a large-scale attack by the enemy's drones." "Therefore, we simultaneously conducted an air defense battle and ensured the safety of the presidential helicopter's flight in the air," he said explaining the near-fatal attack on the Russian premier. Putin's Helicopter Under Attack News of the attempted attack came shortly before Russia carried out its largest drone and missile strike on Ukraine to date — an action that drew criticism from President Trump. He warned that any attempt by Putin to take full control of Ukraine would result in Russia's "downfall." He also took aim at Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a post shared Sunday night on Truth Social. "I've always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. "I've always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that's proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!" Earlier on Sunday, the U.S. President expressed his surprise to reporters over Vladimir Putin's decision to escalate attacks on Ukrainian cities, especially after his own attempts to negotiate a ceasefire. When asked whether he was now seriously thinking about imposing more sanctions on Russia, Trump responded, "Absolutely. He's killing a lot of people. What the hell happened to him?" Later that night, in a post on Truth Social, Trump also took a jab at Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, saying he was "doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does." "Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don't like it, and it better stop." Zelensky Infuriates Trump Earlier on Sunday, Zelenskyy condemned the "silence of America" following Russia's largest air strike in three years of conflict. The second consecutive night of heavy drone and ballistic missile attacks left at least 12 people dead, including three children, between Saturday night and Sunday. "Every such terrorist Russian strike is reason enough for new sanctions against Russia," Ukraine's president said. Suring his campaign for presidency, Trump has repeatedly claimed that he could bring the war in Ukraine to an end within 24 hours—even before officially taking office. However, the scale and intensity of this weekend's Russian attacks stood in stark contrast to Trump's earlier claims that Putin was seeking peace. As a result of the bombardment, Kyiv Day—traditionally observed on the final Sunday of May—began with weary residents taking cover in bunkers, subway stations, and underground shelters. Ukraine and its European partners have been pushing for a 30-day ceasefire as an initial step toward broader peace talks. However, in a setback to those efforts, Trump refused this week to impose more sanctions on Moscow for rejecting an immediate halt to hostilities, as Ukraine had requested.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump warns attempts to conquer all of Ukraine will lead to ‘downfall' of Russia
Donald Trump has warned that if Vladimir Putin attempts to conquer all of Ukraine, it will lead to the 'downfall' of Russia, while also criticising Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a Sunday night post on Truth Social. 'I've always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!' Trump wrote in a social media post, adding, 'He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I'm not just talking about soldiers.' Earlier on Sunday the US president told reporters that was he was 'very surprised' that his Russian counterpart had intensified the bombardment of Ukrainian cities despite the US president's efforts to broker a ceasefire. Related: Trump silence as Russia steps up attacks on Ukraine highlights diplomatic failure Pressed by a reporter to say if he was now seriously considering 'putting more sanctions on Russia', Trump replied: 'Absolutely. He's killing a lot of people. What the hell happened to him?' In his post on Sunday night, Trump also criticised Zelenskyy, saying the Ukrainian president was 'doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does.' 'Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don't like it, and it better stop.' Earlier on Sunday, Zelenskyy condemned 'the silence of America' after Russia carried out its largest air raid in three years of war, with a second straight night of massive drone and ballistic missile strikes killing at least 12 people, including three children on Saturday into Sunday. Ukrainian officials confirmed Moscow had launched 298 drones and 69 missiles in multiple waves on sites across the country. 'Every such terrorist Russian strike is reason enough for new sanctions against Russia,' Ukraine's president said. During his campaign for the presidency, Trump repeatedly claimed that if elected, he would end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours, even before being inaugurated. However, the intensity and frequency of this weekend's strikes contrasted sharply with Trump's claim that Vladimir Putin was interested in peace. The attacks meant Kyiv Day – celebrated on the last Sunday in May – began with exhausted people sheltered in bunkers, metro stations and basements. Ukraine and its European allies have sought to push Moscow into signing a 30-day ceasefire as a first step to negotiating an end to the war. In a blow to their efforts, Trump this week declined to place further sanctions on Moscow for not agreeing to an immediate pause in fighting, as Kyiv had wanted. Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, wrote on Telegram: 'Without pressure, nothing will change and Russia and its allies will only build up forces for such murders in western countries. Moscow will fight as long as it has the ability to produce weapons.'
CBC
26-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Russia unleashes massive wave of aerial attacks across Ukraine
Russia again escalated its air attacks on Ukraine over the weekend, targeting more than 30 cities and towns with missiles and drones, including the capital as it celebrated Kyiv Day. The attacks killed at least a dozen people, some of them children, according to Ukrainian officials.
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Zelensky says 'America's silence only encourages Putin' after deadly air strikes
After his people had endured a terrifying night bombarded by 69 missiles and 298 drones in attacks that left 12 people dead and hundreds injured, Volodymyr Zelensky turned his fury on the US Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned Russian air strikes as 'terrorist' attacks against civilians. After his people had endured a terrifying night bombarded by 69 missiles and 298 drones in attacks that left 12 people dead and hundreds injured, Mr Zelensky turned his fury on the US. While Donald Trump was giving a rambling, bizarre speech to US military graduates, his Ukrainian counterpart was blaming his inaction for enabling Vladimir Putin. Mr Zelensky said: 'America's silence, and the silence of others in the world, only encourages Putin.' Three children, aged eight, 12 and 15, had been killed in a town close to the capital Kyiv, and a man in his 70s had died in the southern city of Mykolaiv. Mr Zelensky said: 'These were deliberate strikes on ordinary cities. Ordinary residential buildings were destroyed and damaged. Rescuers have been working in more than 30 Ukrainian cities and villages following Russia 's massive strike. Each such terrorist Russian strike is a sufficient reason for new sanctions against Russia. Russia is dragging out this war and continues to kill every day.' Mr Zelensky demanded that the US put more pressure on Putin. He continued: 'Determination matters now, the determination of the US, the determination of European countries, and all those in the world who want peace.' It was his strongest attack on Donald Trump since their public row in the White House three months ago, when US Vice President JD Vance accused Mr Zelensky of being 'disrespectful' to Trump, who told the Ukraine leader he should be more 'thankful' and that he had no 'cards' to play in negotiations with Russia. Both men were later accused of bullying Mr Zelensky. Last month, Mr Trump criticised Putin and suggested a shift in his stance after a meeting Mr Zelensky before the Pope's funeral. The scale of the latest missile attacks prompted the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, to call for 'the strongest international pressure on Russia to stop this war'. She said: 'Last night's attacks again show Russia bent on more suffering and the annihilation of Ukraine. Devastating to see children among innocent victims.' Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said: 'A difficult Sunday morning in Ukraine after a sleepless night. The most massive Russian air attack in many weeks.' Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko, the former world heavyweight boxing champion, said there had been 'already 10 injured in the capital'. Mr Klitschko said a student college dormitory in the Holosiivskyi district had been hit by a drone and the building set on fire. The attacks meant the popular Kyiv Day bank holiday – celebrated on the last Sunday in May – began with residents seeking shelter in metro stations and basements. Ukraine Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, said 13 regions had been attacked in a 'ruthless strike aimed at civilians'. It has emerged that Russia is now able to manufacture drones at a much faster rate than before and the weapons are evolving. Shahed drones are now packed with more explosives and have technology enabling them to more successfully evade detection. Ukraine said that over the entire weekend Russian strikes hit at least 22 separate locations. Russia said it had downed 110 Ukrainian latest attacks came a day after the Ukrainian capital Kyiv suffered one of the heaviest assaults since the start of the Russian invasion. Saturday's attacks, which killed 13 people, came as diplomatic efforts resulted in prisoner exchanges. More than 500 Russian and Ukrainian prisoners were exchanged yesterday. Russia's defence ministry said it was the final phase of the 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange the two sides had agreed to in the meeting between Kyiv and Moscow last week. The talks in Istanbul were the first time the two sides had met face to face for peace talks since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Last week, Trump and Putin had a two-hour phone call to discuss a US-proposed ceasefire deal. Trump said he believed the call had gone 'very well', and claimed Russia and Ukraine would immediately start' negotiations toward a ceasefire and 'an end to the war'. Putin said Russia would work with Ukraine to craft a 'memorandum' on a 'possible future peace', but had not accepted a 30-day ceasefire. Last night it was reported that Putin is amassing 50,000 troops for a fresh summer offensive on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city.
Japan Today
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Russia and Ukraine complete prisoner swap hours after Moscow launches major aerial assault
Ukrainian serviceman Vitaly kisses his wife, Olena, after returning from captivity during a POWs exchange between Russia and Ukraine, in Chernyhiv region, Ukraine, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) By SAMYA KULLAB and OLEKSII YEROSHENKO Russia and Ukraine swapped hundreds more prisoners on Sunday, the third and last part of a major exchange that reflected a rare moment of cooperation in otherwise failed efforts to reach a ceasefire in the more than three years of war. Hours earlier, the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and other regions came under a massive Russian drone-and-missile attack that killed at least 12 people and injured dozens. Ukrainian officials described it as the largest aerial assault since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia's Defense Ministry said each side exchanged 303 soldiers, following the release of 307 combatants and civilians each on Saturday, and 390 on Friday — the biggest total swap of the war. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Sunday's exchange, saying on X that '303 Ukrainian defenders are home." He noted that the troops returning to Ukraine were members of the 'Armed Forces, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service, and the State Special Transport Service.' Nataliya Borovyk, the sister of released Ukrainian soldier Ihor Ulesov, was overwhelmed when she learned of her brother's return. 'My uncle had to calm me down and put me in a taxi so I could get here,' she told The Associated Press. 'A moment like that stays with you forever.' Borovyk said the family had been waiting anxiously for news, and that she had hoped her brother might be released in the first part of the exchange on Friday. 'We were worried about all the guys. He wasn't there on Friday, but I was here — I at least greeted them, I stood there until the very end and waited, (hoping) maybe he would appear after all.' In talks held in Istanbul earlier this month — the first time the two sides met face to face for peace talks — Kyiv and Moscow agreed to swap 1,000 prisoners of war and civilian detainees each. The exchange has been the only tangible outcome from the talks. The scale of the onslaught was stunning — Russia hit Ukraine with 367 drones and missiles, the largest single aerial attack of the war, according to Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Air Force. In all, Russia used 69 missiles of various types and 298 drones, including Iranian-designed Shahed drones, he told The Associated Press. There was no immediate comment from Moscow on the strikes. For Kyiv, the day was particularly somber as the city observed Kyiv Day, a national holiday that falls on the last Sunday in May, commemorating its founding in the 5th century, Zelenskyy said Russian missiles and drones hit more than 30 cities and villages, and urged Western partners to ramp up sanctions on Russia — a longstanding demand of the Ukrainian leader but one that despite warnings to Moscow by the United States and Europe has not materialized in ways to deter Russia. 'These were deliberate strikes on ordinary cities," Zelenskyy wrote on X, adding that Sunday's targets included Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, Chernihiv, Sumy, Odesa, Poltava, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv and Cherkasy regions. 'America's silence, the silence of others in the world, only encourages" Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said. 'Without truly strong pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality cannot be stopped. Sanctions will certainly help." Keith Kellogg, Washington's special envoy to Ukraine, condemned the Russian attacks on X, calling it 'a clear violation' of the Geneva Protocols. 'These attacks are shameful. Stop the killing. Ceasefire now.' Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its air defenses shot down 110 Ukrainian drones overnight. Sounds of explosions boomed throughout the night in Kyiv and the surrounding area as Ukrainian air defense persisted for hours in efforts to shoot down Russian drones and missiles. At least four people were killed and 16 were injured in the capital itself, according to the security service. 'A difficult Sunday morning in Ukraine after a sleepless night,' Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X, adding that the assault 'lasted all night.' Fires broke out in homes and businesses, set off by falling drone debris. In Zhytomyr region, west of Kyiv, the emergency service said three children were killed, aged 8, 12 and 17. Twelve people were injured in the attacks, it said. At least four people were killed in the Khmelnytskyi region, in western Ukraine. One man was killed in Mykolaiv region, in southern Ukraine. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a student dormitory in Holosiivskyi district was hit by a drone and one of the building's walls was on fire. In Dniprovskyi district, a private house was destroyed and in Shevchenkivskyi district, windows in a residential building were smashed. The scale of Russia's use of aerial weapons aside, the attacks over the past 48 hours have been among the most intense strikes on Ukraine since the February 2022 invasion. In Markhalivka, just outside Kyiv where several village homes were burned down, the Fedorenkos watched their ruined home in tears. 'The street looks like Bakhmut, like Mariupol, it's just terrible,' said 76-year-old Liubov Fedorenko, comparing their village to some of Ukraine's most devastated cities. She told the AP she was grateful her daughter and grandchildren hadn't joined them for the weekend. 'I was trying to persuade my daughter to come to us," Fedorenko said, adding that she told her daughter, 'After all, you live on the eighth floor in Kyiv, and here it's the ground floor.'' "She said, 'No, mum, I'm not coming.' And thank God she didn't come, because the rocket hit (the house) on the side where the children's rooms were,' Fedorenko said. Ivan Fedorenko, 80, said he regrets letting their two dogs into the house when the air raid siren went off. 'They burned to death,' he said. "I want to bury them, but I'm not allowed yet.' The POW exchange was the latest of scores of swaps since the war began but also the biggest involving Ukrainian civilians. Still, it has not halted the fighting. Battles have continued along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, where tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed, and neither country has relented in its deep strikes. Russia's Defense Ministry quoted Yaroslav Yakimkin of the 'North' group of Russian forces as saying Sunday that Ukrainian troops have been pushed back from the border in the Kursk region, which Putin visited days ago. 'The troops continue to advance forward every day,' Yakimkin said, adding that Russian forces have taken Marine and Loknya in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region, which borders Kursk, over the past week, and were advancing in the Kharkiv region around the largely destroyed town of Vovchansk. Speaking on Russian state TV on Sunday, a Russian serviceman said that Putin was reportedly flying over the Kursk region in a helicopter when the area came under intense Ukrainian drone attack during his visit. Putin's helicopter was 'virtually at the epicenter of repelling a large-scale attack by the enemy's drones,' said Yuri Dashkin, described as commander of a Russian air defense division. He added that Russian air defense units shot down 46 drones during the incident. Associated Press writers Elise Morton in London and Volodymyr Yurchuk in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
