Russia Launches 85 Drones, Missile Attack on Ukraine Hours After Trump-Putin Summit
Russia has carried out a massive overnight strike on Ukraine, launching 85 drones and a ballistic missile, Ukraine’s air force reported on Saturday, August 16, 2025.
The assault came just hours after a highly anticipated summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska ended without a ceasefire agreement.
According to Ukrainian officials, the strikes began late on August 15 — the same day as the summit — and continued into the early hours of August 16.
Moscow deployed an Iskander-M ballistic missile alongside 85 Iranian-made Shahed drones, targeting multiple frontline regions.
Ukraine’s air defense successfully intercepted 61 drones, but attacks still struck four regions, causing damage and unrest.
The attack coincided with reports from Russian state media that Moscow has begun constructing Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant — a project widely viewed as part of Russia’s strategy to expand influence in Central Asia.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has yet to issue a response to the Alaska summit, where Trump and Putin spoke of “progress” but announced no concrete steps toward peace.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has now entered its fourth year, leaving tens of thousands dead and millions displaced.
