Ukraine hit by major attack as Trump says Putin won’t ‘stop’ – DW – 07/04/2025

The nuclear power plant in the southern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia was without external power on Friday evening after a Russian strike hit a power line, according to both the Ukrainian Energy Ministry and the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog.

“Ukraine’s ZNPP [Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant] lost all off-site power at 17:36 today, [for the] ninth time during the military conflict and first since late 2023, said Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

“The ZNPP is currently relying on power from its emergency diesel generators, underlining the extremely precarious nuclear safety situation,” he added.

Ukraine‘s Energy Minister German Galushchenko said a Russian strike had caused the blackout, while his ministry posted on Telegram: “This line allows us to support our own needs to ensure the level of radiation safety. This is another act of nuclear terror by the Russians.”

The power plant’s six nuclear reactors are all shut down but the plant requires power to its cooling systems for safety.

Russian troops seized and occupied the power plant on March 4, 2022, just days into the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed “opportunities in air defense” in a call with US President Donald Trump on Friday.

This comes after the Ukrainian airforce reported a Russian attack with 550 drones and missiles. 

In a post on the platform X, Zelenskyy said he and Trump talked about the current situation in Ukraine, including “Russian airstrikes and the broader frontline developments.”

He said that Ukraine and the US would “work together to strengthen the protection of our skies” and that Kyiv was “ready for direct projects with the United States. 

“[We] believe this is critically important for security, especially when it comes to drones and related technologies,” Zelenskyy said.

He said that he also discussed potential “joint production” of drones and other technologies.

Zelenskyy also said they agreed to hold a separate meeting between their teams.

The Ukrainian president thanked the US for their support so far, saying: “We have achieved a lot together with America and we support all efforts to stop the killings and restore just, lasting, and dignified peace.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and and US President Donald Trump spoke on the phone early on Friday.

They discussed air defense weapons, and escalating Russian strikes on Ukraine, according to a report by US outlet Axios.

Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said it was an “important conversation between presidents”

It comes a day after a call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which the US leader described as “disappointing.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump are due to speak in a phone call this Friday afternoon. 

Their chat is likely to focus on a call between Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin a day earlier, and the US’ decision to pause some weapon shipments to Ukraine. 

Trump came out of his conversation with Putin “disappointed,” and said his Russian counterpart did not seem willing to stop the war. 

Zelenskyy is seeking pressure on Russia after Friday’s massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine, and a reversal of the US pause on weapon shipments. 

The French presidency has said that President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are set to co-chair a meeting on July 10 to discuss support for Ukraine.

“There will certainly be a discussion on how to seriously maintain Ukraine’s combat capability,” the Elysee Palace said.

Macron is on a state visit to the UK from July 8 to 10. 

German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said Berlin is engaging in intensive talks to procure Patriot defense systems.

German tabloid Bild had earlier reported that Germany was working on an emergency plan after the US paused some shipments of previously pledged Patriots to Ukraine. 

“There are various ways to fill this Patriot gap,” Kornelius told reporters, adding that one option was possibly buying the Patriots in the US, then passing them to Ukraine.

Russia’s Defense Minister announced exchanging prisoners of war (POWs) with Ukraine on Friday. 

The ministry said Ukraine handed over a “group of Russian servicemen,” and Russia “handed a group of Ukrainian soldiers in return.” It did not specify how many POWs were involved. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed a POW swap took place, but also did not provide any numbers. 

The exchange was part of agreements reached in Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul last month, Moscow said. 

Our correspondent in Kyiv, Jan-Philipp Scholz, is telling us he woke up shortly after midnight due to the sound of a loud impact from the attack, which continued until around 4:30 a.m.

Several districts have been hit in the attack, especially in Kyiv’s north and west. 

So far, there is reported damage to buildings, a school, a medical center, and a lot of transport infrastructure. 

Scholz said city officials warned residents not to open their windows due to some chemicals in the air, “and indeed there is a strong smell here in Kyiv this morning.” 

What particularly worries a lot of observers is that none of the ballistic missiles were confirmed to have been intercepted, he added. 

We’ll hear more from Scholz in Kyiv throughout the day. 

People took shelter inside a metro station during a Russian drone and missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, UkraineImage: Yan Dobronosov/REUTERSResidential buildings, educational and medical facilities and transport infrastructure were hit in at least 5 city neighborhoodsImage: Andreas Stroh/IMAGORussia is reported to have hit 8 locations with 9 missiles and 63 dronesImage: State Emergency Service Of Ukraine/Handout/REUTERSThe air alert lasted for more than 8 hoursImage: Andre Luis Alves/Anadolu Agency/IMAGO

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said part of the Polish Embassy in Kyiv was damaged in the overnight Russian attack. 

“In a massive [Russian] attack on Kyiv, the building of our embassy’s consular section was damaged,” Sikorski wrote on X. 

“I just spoke with Ambassador Lukasiewicz; everyone is safe and sound. Ukraine urgently needs air defence resources.”

Germany’s BND foreign intelligence agency said, citing evidence it collected with Dutch authorities, that Russia has expanded its use of chemical weapons in its war in Ukraine. 

According to the BND, Russia has been using chloropicrin, which has similar characteristics to tear gas but can be lethal in high concentrations in enclosed spaces.

“This represents a more serious violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which prohibits the use of this lung warfare agent under all circumstances,” the agency said.

Chloropicrin is a chemical warfare agent that was known as “Green Cross” during World War I, as its shells were marked then with a green cross. 

Both Russia and Ukraine are signatories to the CWC.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the latest Russian attack was one of the largest yet and called for appropriate pressure on Moscow. 

Describing the attack as “deliberately massive and cynical,” Zelenskyy said it proved that “without truly large-scale pressure, Russia will not change its dumb, destructive behavior.”

“For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media.

“Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” he added.

Ukraine‘s air force said Russia‘s overnight aerial bombardment involved 550 missiles and drones. 

Russia launched 539 drones and 11 missiles, the air force said, adding that air defence units had downed 268 drones and two missiles.

Yuriy Ignat, a representative of Ukraine’s air force, said it was “the largest number that the enemy has used in a single attack.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said the attack was timed to follow the latest phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

“Right after Putin spoke with President Trump. And he does it on purpose. Enough of waiting! Putin clearly shows his complete disregard for the United States and everyone who has called for an end to the war,” Sybiga wrote on social media. 

Hours after a phone call with Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump said he did not think his Russian counterpart would stop the war in Ukraine. 

“I’m very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin, because I don’t think he’s there, and I’m very disappointed,” Trump told reporters in Washington.

“I’m just saying I don’t think he’s looking to stop [the war,] and that’s too bad.”

The phone call on Thursday was the sixth publicly disclosed chat between themsince Trump’s return to the White House.

He had said earlier their call resulted in “no progress at all.” The Kremlin, meanwhile, said their conversation was “frank and constructive,” and that Russia would keep pursuing its goals in Ukraine.

Kyiv came under heavy drone attack overnight, with Russian forces striking at least 13 locations across the Ukrainian capital.

Ukraine’s air defenses were active for hours and explosions echoed across the city.

At least 14 people were injured, 12 of them hospitalized, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. 

Officials say residential areas were targeted, with fires breaking out in at least two districts. 

The Ukrainian Air Force reports that the Russian military launched at least one Kinzhal (Dagger) hypersonic missile. They also fired ballistic missiles in two waves at targets in Kyiv and nearby areas.