Russia Unleashes Massive Air Attack on Ukraine Following Trump's Stance on Aid

The three-year-long conflict between Ukraine and Russia has escalated dramatically, with Russia launching a massive aerial assault on multiple Ukrainian cities on Saturday. This marks the fourth major attack this month, involving an estimated 600 drones and over two dozen missiles. Notably, western Ukrainian cities like Lviv, Lutsk, and Chernivtsi, previously considered relatively safe, were targeted in this relentless barrage.

The attacks come shortly after US President Donald Trump signaled a shift in his administration's approach, indicating that the US would indeed be sending more military aid to Ukraine. While the specific motivation for the intensified Russian strikes is not explicitly stated as a direct response to Trump's recent comments, the timing is highly suggestive. Trump has recently expressed growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin's refusal to engage in meaningful peace talks and has reversed an earlier brief pause in US weapons shipments to Ukraine, stating Ukraine "has to be able to defend themselves."

According to reports, the attacks have resulted in casualties and widespread damage. In Chernivtsi, near the Romanian border, two people (a 26-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man) were killed. Fourteen more were injured across various locations, with numerous residential and government buildings sustaining severe damage. Lviv alone saw 46 residential buildings, a university, a court, and over 20 businesses impacted.

This escalation aligns with a recent report from the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission, which indicated that June 2024 witnessed the highest number of civilian casualties in the last three years, with 232 people killed and 1,343 injured. The targeting of western regions, previously less affected, raises concerns about the war's broadening scope and potential implications for neighboring European countries like Romania and Poland.

Despite the ferocity of the Russian assault, the Ukrainian Air Force claims to have intercepted a significant portion of the incoming threats, shooting down 25 missiles, destroying 319 "Shahed" drones, and electronically jamming another 258. However, the attacks still caused substantial damage and instilled fear across the nation.