Russia unleashed its largest drone and missile assault on Ukraine overnight on Friday, July 4, just hours after a high-stakes phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended without progress toward ending the war.

Explosions rocked Kyiv as air defense systems scrambled to repel the relentless barrage. AFP journalists reported hearing the constant buzz of drones and the roar of detonations across the capital as Ukrainian forces engaged incoming threats.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said air raid sirens began wailing shortly after news of the Trump-Putin call broke.

“Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” Zelensky posted on social media. “Without large-scale pressure, Russia will not change its destructive behavior,” he added, calling on the United States to intensify its stance against Moscow.

According to Ukraine’s air force, the assault involved 539 drones of various types and 11 missiles. At least 23 people were wounded in what officials described as the most massive aerial attack since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.

“This was the largest attack of the war,” a Ukrainian air force spokesperson confirmed to local media.

Despite growing international calls for de-escalation, the Kremlin doubled down on its military objectives. The phone conversation between Trump and Putin—their sixth since Trump returned to office in January—produced no diplomatic breakthrough. While Trump has previously sounded hopeful about peace talks, his tone turned sharply pessimistic after the latest call.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga condemned Russia’s actions, saying:

“Putin clearly shows complete disregard for the United States and every international appeal to end this war.”

Russia’s air campaign has intensified in recent weeks. An AFP analysis shows that June recorded the highest number of drone and missile strikes since the conflict began, coinciding with the apparent collapse of direct peace efforts.

In Kyiv, terrified residents took shelter in underground metro stations as air raid sirens blared through the night.

The attack comes amid rising concerns in Ukraine over the reliability of U.S. military support. This week, Washington announced a reduction in some aid deliveries, prompting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to call on the EU to “step up” its support.

Ukraine has responded with increased drone strikes inside Russian territory. In the latest incident, a woman was killed when a Ukrainian drone hit an apartment building, according to Russian regional authorities.