Putin Unleashes Unprecedented Drone Barrage Amid Trump Outburst, Peace Prospects Dwindle
In what appears to be a dramatic intensification of hostilities, Russia has launched its most extensive drone and missile assault on Ukraine since the invasion began over three years ago, as diplomatic efforts by Washington teeter on the brink of collapse.
On the night of 26 May, Ukrainian officials reported an unprecedented aerial onslaught: 355 drones and nine missiles launched by Russian forces, marking the largest single-night drone barrage of the conflict. This followed a similar pattern over the preceding 48 hours, with nearly 900 drones deployed in total from Friday through Sunday.
The bombardment caused extensive damage and loss of life, with at least 12 civilians killed and dozens more injured in Saturday&rsquo;s strikes. Residential areas endured hours of aerial sirens and drone swarms, forcing many to take shelter overnight as Ukrainian air defences worked overtime.
The intensification of the air campaign coincides with what had been tentative U.S. efforts to reinvigorate peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow. However, that diplomatic push now seems imperilled by the Kremlin&rsquo;s escalation&mdash;and a sharply worded outburst from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Posting on his social media platform late Sunday, Trump declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin had &ldquo;gone absolutely CRAZY!&rdquo; and lambasted him for &ldquo;needlessly killing a lot of people.&rdquo; The American president further warned that Putin&rsquo;s ambition to conquer Ukraine could &ldquo;lead to the downfall of Russia,&rdquo; even as he signalled new sanctions might be forthcoming.
Trump, however, didn&rsquo;t spare Ukraine&rsquo;s leadership either, scolding President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an apparent sign of mounting frustration at the lack of progress in talks and the continued carnage on the ground.
Despite the harsh tone, President Trump insisted that he had historically maintained &ldquo;a very good relationship&rdquo; with Putin, though he suggested something had fundamentally changed in the Russian leader&rsquo;s disposition.
Putin, for his part, dismissed Trump&rsquo;s characterisation as overly emotional. &ldquo;Everyone is emotional in war,&rdquo; he remarked in a brief statement, downplaying the rhetorical clash.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin&rsquo;s own regions are feeling the war&rsquo;s blowback. Russian authorities reported that 96 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight across 12 regions, including the Ryazan and Oryol oblasts, where casualties were confirmed.
With Moscow now entrenched across roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory, including the long-held Crimea peninsula, the conflict shows little sign of abating. Instead, the war appears to be entering a more volatile and dangerous phase&mdash;militarily more intense, diplomatically more fractured, and with leaders on all sides growing more strident.

Russia's intensified drone strikes on Ukraine

With 20% of Ukraine under Russian control, fresh strikes derail fragile hopes of peace talks

Trump Slams Putin as 'Crazy' After Record Drone Blitz

With 20% of Ukraine under Russian control, fresh strikes derail fragile hopes of peace talks

May 27, 2025 | 05:55 IST