A fragile US-brokered ceasefire lies in ruins after Russia’s largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the war began, triggering immediate retaliation against key Russian energy assets.
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Ukraine Retaliates After 1,500-Drone Attack Kills 24, Shatters Ceasefire
Russia shattered a US-brokered ceasefire with its largest aerial assault of the war, launching over 1,500 drones and dozens of missiles at Ukraine in a two-day barrage that killed at least 24 people and leveled a Kyiv apartment block.
"This was a massive and virtually continuous assault," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, calling the attack a deliberate act of terror timed to maximize challenges for air defenses after a period of stockpiling by Russia.
The intense strikes beginning Wednesday involved more than 1,560 drones and 56 missiles, according to Ukrainian officials. In response, Ukraine launched its own drone attack that struck and leveled a major oil refinery in Ryazan, deep inside Russian territory, causing at least four casualties.
The rapid escalation obliterates a three-day ceasefire brokered by the U.S. just last week, signaling a return to a brutal war of attrition. With peace talks stalled and Ukraine facing an estimated $350 million in new energy infrastructure repairs alone, the exchange shows both sides are prepared for a prolonged and bloody conflict.
Ceasefire in Tatters
The attack marks a stark reversal from just days earlier. The now-collapsed ceasefire, personally mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump, had included a prisoner swap of 205 soldiers from each side. The exchange was intended as a confidence-building measure toward a larger de-escalation.
Footage had shown emotional reunions as Ukrainian soldiers returned, while Russian President Vladimir Putin had claimed the war was nearing its end. The comments were dismissed by Zelenskyy and the goodwill quickly evaporated. "Until last night, it was looking good, but they took a big hit last night," Trump said, acknowledging the major setback to his diplomatic efforts.
Economic Warfare Intensifies
The assault heavily targeted Ukraine's energy and railway infrastructure, a consistent Russian strategy that has seen over 1,400 such attacks since last July. Private energy company DTEK, which owns a thermal power plant that was hit, now faces nearly $350 million in repairs ahead of next winter.
Analysts note a tactical shift, with Russia deploying drones in sustained, days-long waves that extend into daylight hours. This strategy, according to the Institute for Science and International Security, aims to exert maximum psychological pressure and economic disruption by keeping cities on high alert, straining Ukraine's multi-layered air defense network, and forcing it to expend valuable interceptor missiles on cheap drones. Ukraine's subsequent strike on the Ryazan refinery shows its willingness to answer in kind, hitting high-value economic targets deep within Russia.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
[1] Kyiv Enters a Hopeful Spring After Surviving the War’s Darkest Winter - WSJ[2] Russia hammers Ukraine in biggest prolonged drone attack since war began[3] Hundreds of Russian Shaheds are descending on Ukraine in the daytime, signaling...[4] Trump’s ‘peace deal’ crumbles as Russia slaughters 24 in Kyiv | The Mary Sue[5] Horror in Ukraine as Putin blitzes Kyiv in 700 drone and missile attack
