Russia has launched a major overnight assault on Ukraine, just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump concluded their highly anticipated summit in Alaska.
According to Ukraine’s air force, the attack began late on August 15 and stretched into the early hours of August 16.
Officials confirmed that 85 Iranian-made Shahed drones and a ballistic Iskander-M missile were fired, marking one of the heaviest barrages in recent weeks.
Kyiv’s military reported intercepting 61 of the drones.
However, strikes still managed to hit four different regions, leaving significant destruction near frontline areas.
“The overnight strikes were relentless, beginning just hours after the Alaska summit ended,” Ukraine’s air force stated.
The Alaska meeting between Trump and Putin had been billed as a potential breakthrough in the two-year-old conflict.
However, the talks ended without a ceasefire agreement, despite both leaders stressing that “progress” had been made.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not yet publicly commented on the outcome of the summit.
Nevertheless, the strikes coming so soon after the discussions have fueled doubts about Moscow’s willingness to halt hostilities.
Meanwhile, Russian state media reported that Moscow has begun building Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant.
The project is seen as part of Russia’s bid to tighten its influence in Central Asia.
Moreover, the timing of this announcement, coinciding with fresh attacks on Ukraine, underscores how Moscow continues to juggle war efforts with broader geopolitical ambitions.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022, has now entered its fourth year.
The war has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and forced millions from their homes.
Furthermore, prisoner swaps, international sanctions, and repeated peace talks have done little to end the bloodshed.
