Ukraine reported on Saturday that Russia unleashed a large-scale overnight assault, deploying 85 attack drones and a ballistic missile, just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump concluded their much-anticipated talks in Alaska.
The discussions in the remote US state were closely followed worldwide but ended without any significant progress toward halting Russia’s war in Ukraine, now stretching into its third year.
According to Ukraine’s air force, Moscow carried out strikes using “an Iskander-M ballistic missile and 85 Shahed-type drones,” targeting several frontline regions. The bombardment began on the evening of August 15, coinciding with the timing of the Putin-Trump negotiations, and continued into the early hours of August 16.
Kyiv confirmed that its air defence systems successfully intercepted and destroyed 61 of the drones. Despite this, the strikes once again highlighted the intensity of Russia’s campaign.
The Alaska summit between Putin and Trump concluded without any agreement on a ceasefire, despite mounting international pressure on the Kremlin to commit to halting hostilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has yet to make a public statement regarding the outcome of the talks.
Russia’s invasion, which began in February 2022, has resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread destruction across Ukraine, with no sign yet of a resolution.
What you should know
Russia’s ongoing assault on Ukraine continues to escalate, with drone and missile strikes remaining a core tactic.
Despite global calls for peace, the Putin-Trump meeting in Alaska produced no concrete step toward ending the war, leaving Ukraine to confront the consequences of a drawn-out conflict.
