300 Drones and 70 Missiles Leave 12 Dead
EU Condemns Attack... US Envoy Says "Violation of Geneva Protocol"
Russia launched its largest-ever drone (unmanned aerial vehicle) strike against Ukraine, resulting in dozens of casualties. On May 25 (local time), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged other countries to make decisive moves to expand sanctions against Russia, stating that the silence of the United States is encouraging Russian attacks.
According to US broadcaster CNN and the Associated Press, Russian forces carried out large-scale drone and ballistic missile strikes across Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, for two consecutive days starting the previous day. At least 12 people, including three children, were killed in these attacks.
President Zelensky stated on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that Russia launched 300 attack drones and 70 missiles overnight, targeting more than 30 cities and towns, including Kyiv.
He said, "Such acts of terror by Russia are more than enough reason to impose new sanctions," and condemned Russia for "prolonging the war and killing people every day." He also stated, "The silence of the United States and the silence of other countries around the world only encourages Russian President Vladimir Putin," and appealed, "What is important now is decisive action from the United States, European countries, and all nations that seek peace."
Europe condemned Russia. Kaya Kallas, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, mourned the victims of the Russian airstrikes and said, "The strongest possible international pressure is needed to make Russia end this war."
In the United States, Keith Kellogg, the special envoy for the war in Ukraine, condemned the attack. On X, he stated that this assault was a clear violation of the 1977 Geneva Protocol and called for a ceasefire.
Ukraine also carried out a drone attack on the Russian capital, Moscow, on the same day. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced that 12 drones headed for Moscow were intercepted.
The Ukrainian military reported that during the night of May 23 to 24, Russia launched 14 missiles and 250 drones. As a result of these attacks, at least 13 civilians were killed and 56 injured in various locations, including Kyiv and Odesa. During the same period, Russia also reported that Ukraine carried out airstrikes mainly targeting the Belgorod region and that 94 drones were intercepted.
These attacks occurred on the final day of a prisoner exchange conducted under an agreement reached by the two countries in Istanbul, T?rkiye, on May 16. There is growing criticism that the significance of the agreement has been undermined by the large-scale drone strikes exchanged by both sides.
In the negotiations, both sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each as a "confidence-building measure." This is the largest exchange in a single operation. On May 23, 390 prisoners were returned to each side, followed by 307 on May 24, and 303 on this day, completing the implementation of the agreement.
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