Russia bombarded Ukraine with kamikaze Shahed drones for eight hours today – just hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky had held a ‘great’ phone call with Donald Trump.
Vladimir Putin’s military went on the offensive once again, repeatedly hitting the capital Kyiv with drone strikes, triggering fires in multiple buildings.
“Swarms” of the unmanned flying explosives entered Ukrainian air-space from all directions and at different altitudes.
As terrified civilians hunkered down in underground bunkers, footage showed a huge mushroom fireball rising into the night sky
Kyiv residents were forced to shelter for hours in metro stations during a relentless night which saw wave after wave of drone strikes.
One hit a huge warehouse building in the Solomianskyi district of Kyiv, while a three-story medical centre was also left ablaze.
In the Obolonskyi district, the roof of a six-floor business centre caught fire causing significant damage as the drones rained down. A residential building also caught fire.
In the Pechersk district, a blaze broke out on the 33rd and 34th floors of a residential tower after being hit by the Russian strikes.
Residents in Kyiv told how they saw Shahed drones being destroyed by Ukrainian air defences, highlighted in video footage online.
But some made it through and it was not only the capital which was targeted.
Elsewhere, the southern port of Odesa was also hit in the overnight strikes, with an apartment block hit by fire and blast damage.
Ukrainian authorities said casualties from the multiple strikes were still being assessed, but a number of people were known to have been injured and required hospital treatment.
But the overnight onslaught came just hours after Mr Zelensky held talks with newly re-elected Mr Trump, seeking to win his backing when he returns to the White House in January.
“Had a great phone conversation with President Trump and congratulated him on his historic landslide victory, a result made possible by his impressive campaign,” the Ukrainian leader said afterwards.
“Kudos to his family and team for their excellent work. We agreed to maintain a close dialogue and develop our cooperation.
“Strong and steadfast US leadership is vital to the world and to a just peace.”
Early signs suggest Mr Trump may be looking at a peace plan which would freeze the current front lines and create a demilitarised zone policed by European troops, according to US sources.
But it would mean Ukraine would be forced to abandon its plan to join NATO for at least 20 years. However, in return, the US would continue to supply weapons to deter a new invasion by Putin.
However, Trump has not yet proposed a specific place plan, though he has promised he could end the war even before he is inaugurated in January.
Meanwhile, outgoing President Joe Biden is seeking to deliver $6billion of military aid to Ukraine before Trump’s inauguration.
The aim is to expedite arms deliveries amid concerns that a future Trump administration plans to halt weapons shipments ahead of a desired deal with Ukraine and Russia to end the war.
Putin’s administration greeted Mr Trump’s re-election by describing it as “useful”.
The Russian President is believed to have unofficially offered congratulations to Mr Trump on his victory, via “acquaintances”.
Moscow denied it had interfered in the US election by covertly backing Mr Trump in a bid to halt arms supplies to Ukraine.
