Russia has unleashed one of its heaviest bombardments in weeks against Ukraine, firing 574 drones and 40 missiles across the country as diplomatic efforts to end the war intensify.
Ukrainian officials reported one person killed in the western city of Lviv, while 15 others were wounded in an attack on the southwestern Transcarpathia region. The massive overnight assault marked the biggest air attack since July.
The strikes came as President Donald Trump spearheads diplomatic moves to halt the three-year conflict. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the bombardment highlighted why peace efforts were "so critical."
President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed readiness to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin "in neutral Europe," suggesting Switzerland or Austria as possible venues. He said he wasn't against Istanbul either, though he poured cold water on Budapest as a location.
"I'm not saying that Orban's policy was against Ukraine, but it was against supporting Ukraine," Zelensky said Thursday, referencing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's strong ties with Moscow.
Ukraine's air force reported that Russia fired 614 total projectiles overnight and intercepted 577 of them. The attacks came from western Russia, the Black Sea, and Russian-occupied Crimea using hypersonic, ballistic, and cruise missiles.
While Russian strikes typically focus on eastern regions near front lines, the latest attacks hit western areas as well. Trump has been reaching out to Putin to arrange the Zelensky meeting as part of his diplomatic push to end the war.
In Lviv, three people were injured alongside the fatality, with attacks damaging over 20 civilian buildings, including homes and a nursery. Another 15 people were hurt when cruise missiles struck a US electronics firm in Mukachevo, near Ukraine's borders with Hungary and Slovakia.
"One of the missiles struck a major American electronics manufacturer in our westernmost region, leading to serious damage and casualties," Sybiha wrote on social media. The plant produces coffee machines and household goods, officials said.
The prospect of direct talks emerged after Trump met Putin in Alaska, then hosted Zelensky and European leaders at the White House on Monday. Washington talks on Ukraine covered major policy directions for ending the conflict.
Trump initially suggested trilateral talks involving himself, Putin, and Zelensky, but has since indicated he might not participate: "Now I think it would be better if they met without me... If necessary, I'll go."
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Zelensky said there was still no sign from Moscow that they "truly intend to engage in substantive negotiations" to end the war. He noted that Russian forces were massing on the southern front line in the Zaporizhzhia region.
"We can see that they continue transferring part of their troops from the Kursk direction to Zaporizhzhia," the Ukrainian leader said.
Ukraine retaliated by striking an oil refinery in Russia's Rostov region, which borders the Donbas. Officials said they also hit a Russian drone depot in occupied Donetsk and other military infrastructure facilities.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022, its forces have occupied most of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, including Luhansk and Donetsk. Russia currently controls around a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
The front lines have remained largely stagnant in recent months, with small territorial gains on both sides. Amid this ground stalemate, Russia has expanded its aerial bombardment of Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, particularly as diplomatic efforts intensify.
Ukraine suffered its largest-ever aerial attack in early July, when 728 drones and 13 missiles struck cities across the country in multiple waves. The latest bombardment represents the second-largest assault since then.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said Budapest was ready to provide "appropriately fair and safe conditions" for negotiations. However, Zelensky's comments suggest he'd prefer other venues for potential peace talks.
In the wake of the latest attacks, Sybiha reiterated Ukraine's call for additional air defenses from allies to fend off future bombardments. The timing of Russia's massive strike suggests Moscow may be trying to strengthen its negotiating position before any potential talks.
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