At least five people, including a 1-year-old, were killed in a Russian attack on Ukraine just hours after a phone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The attack in the city of Pryluky, located in the Chernihiv region, has prompted a large-scale rescue operation, which has tragically resulted in the loss of multiple lives. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that six drones targeted the city, causing widespread damage and casualties. During the rescue efforts, at least one first responder, who had arrived at the scene, was struck by a Shahed drone that had hit his home, resulting in the death of his wife, daughter, and one-year-old grandson. Zelenskyy reported that this incident marks the 632nd child killed in the conflict since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, underscoring the immense humanitarian toll of the ongoing war.
The attack occurs just hours after a notable phone conversation between Trump and Putin, during which they discussed a variety of topics, including Ukraine’s recent attacks on Russian military infrastructure. Trump stated that their conversation was ‘good’ but emphasized that it would not result in immediate peace. He revealed that Putin had expressed a strong determination to respond to the recent attack on Russian airfields, which had been a key point of discussion. The remarks suggest that the Russian strike could be seen as a direct retaliation for Ukraine’s actions, which included drone attacks on airfields in Serbia and the far north of Russia, targeting heavy bombers. These attacks were reportedly assessed by the U.S. to have damaged up to 2,000 planes, according to Reuters.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced that the Russian military has taken steps to repair the planes damaged in Ukraine’s drone strikes, indicating that the damage will likely be addressed, although the cost and time required for repairs are not yet specified. The strike in Pryluky is among the most recent examples of the escalating conflict, with both sides continuing to deploy advanced weaponry and tactics. As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, the human and economic costs continue to mount, with the conflict remaining one of the most significant and complex international crises of the decade.