KYIV, Ukraine — Russia launched a record-breaking 355 drones into Ukraine in a massive overnight assault, Ukrainian officials said Monday, marking the largest drone attack since Moscow’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. The unprecedented bombardment came just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump sharply condemned Russian leader Vladimir Putin, calling him “absolutely crazy” for escalating the war during peace talks and a major prisoner exchange.
Ukraine’s Air Force said the Sunday night offensive included a combination of 355 Iranian-made Shahed drones, including decoys, along with nine cruise missiles. The barrage triggered six-hour-long air alerts in Kyiv and caused damage across multiple regions, though no fatalities were immediately reported from the drone strikes.
In contrast, one person was killed in Russian shelling in the northeastern Sumy region, which has been under constant bombardment in recent months. In Khmelnytskyi, 18 residential buildings were damaged. In Odesa, a 14-year-old boy was wounded as explosions rocked the southern region.
The onslaught followed a weekend of what Ukrainian officials described as “terror,” capped by a Saturday night missile-and-drone attack that killed at least 12 people and injured dozens. That strike involved 69 missiles and 298 drones, making it the largest aerial assault to date before the overnight record was set just a day later. The figures could not be independently verified, and the Kremlin did not immediately comment on the attack.
Amid the growing violence, Trump publicly rebuked Putin in a rare and forceful statement. Writing on his Truth Social platform Sunday night, Trump said, “He has gone absolutely CRAZY! I’ve always said he wants ALL of Ukraine—not just a piece of it—and maybe that’s proving to be right. But if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!”
Trump, who has long claimed a good relationship with Putin, acknowledged a growing frustration with Moscow. “He’s needlessly killing a lot of people,” Trump wrote. “Missiles and drones are being shot into cities in Ukraine for no reason whatsoever.” He added that the Kremlin’s aggression was especially appalling amid ongoing diplomatic efforts. “We’re in the middle of talking, and he’s shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities. I don’t like it at all. And I’m surprised. I’m very surprised.”
Trump also signaled that he is considering additional sanctions on Moscow, telling reporters he was “not happy with what Putin is doing” and responding “absolutely” when asked if more punitive measures were on the table.
While Trump aimed most of his criticism at Putin, he also expressed irritation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying the Ukrainian leader was “doing his country no favors by talking the way he does,” without elaborating further.
The strikes came amid a rare moment of cooperation between Russia and Ukraine, as both sides completed a three-day prisoner exchange—one of the few tangible results of recent Istanbul-hosted talks. On Sunday, each side exchanged 303 detainees, following two earlier swaps involving 307 and 390 individuals, respectively. The total exchange of 1,000 prisoners was the largest such swap since the war began.
Despite the diplomatic overtures, peace efforts have stalled, and the record-setting drone attack underscored the ongoing volatility. The U.S., backed by European allies, continues to push for a ceasefire, but a durable resolution remains elusive as Moscow intensifies its air war against Ukrainian cities.
As Ukraine braces for further escalations, Trump’s comments suggest a potential shift in U.S. policy toward a more confrontational stance with Putin, should the conflict continue unchecked.
