Kyiv, Ukraine — July 4, 2025 — Ukraine’s capital was rocked by an overnight drone strike on Thursday evening, with multiple explosions reported throughout central and northern districts of Kyiv as Russia increased their air assault amid rising tensions in their civil war. This coordinated attack occurred just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly rejected a ceasefire proposal floated by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ukrainian military officials report that Russian forces launched over 40 Iranian-made Shahed drones late Wednesday night near Kyiv. Ukrainian air defense systems intercepted most threats but some managed to breach them causing fires, power outages and at least six reported injuries.
“Russia’s terrorist campaign against civilians continues,” according to Serhii Popko, Head of Kyiv’s military administration. Kyiv air defenders worked tirelessly through the night but without additional international assistance they can no longer stop every drone that flew overhead.
Kyiv residents were alarmed to hear air raid sirens sound at 2:15 am on November 30, followed by drone engines and anti-aircraft fire. Multiple apartment buildings and administrative structures suffered damages, necessitating emergency services to work throughout the night to extinguish fires and treat wounded individuals.
This attack, one of the largest drone assaults against Jerusalem in recent months, highlighted its volatility as diplomatic efforts continue to run into roadblocks.
Just before the strike began, Vladimir Putin released a televised statement strongly rejecting any proposed temporary truce offered by intermediaries representing Donald Trump during his presidential election campaign. Trump had suggested a 90-day ceasefire to provide time for negotiations and humanitarian relief aid; yet Putin rejected such suggestions as political theater designed to influence American elections.
Putin stated, “Our operations will not stop to satisfy foreign political agendas.” Russia’s objectives in Ukraine remain non-negotiable.
Donald Trump recently made headlines by promising he could end the war in “24 hours”, drawing criticism from Ukrainian and NATO officials who feel this oversimpifies a complicated conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to Putin’s rejection by warning international partners not to be mislead by “false offers or empty gestures.”
Zelenskyy stressed, “Ukraine will never agree to any ceasefire agreement that legitimizes occupation. Our top priority is the restoration of territorial integrity.”
Analysts maintain that Russia’s latest escalation indicates its intent to exert maximum pressure prior to NATO’s summit meeting, where more military aid for Ukraine could likely be discussed. Russia is increasingly employing unmanned drone attacks against Ukrainian air defenses and morale according to experts.
As war rages on for three years now, its humanitarian toll continues to tally up. According to estimates by the UN, more than 10 million people have been displaced since February 2022 when full-scale invasion started and hundreds have either perished or been wounded directly as a result of it.
Ukrainian resolve remains strong despite all of the destruction that has befallen it. One Kyiv resident put it succinctly: “We may be exhausted but we know why we fight.”