It was the deadliest drone barrage since the invasion began: 355 Iranian-made Shahed drones and nine cruise missiles tearing through the night sky, targeting power plants, apartment blocks and hospitals from Kharkiv to Lviv. At dawn, as fires still smoldered, former President Donald Trump erupted on Truth Social: “Vladimir Putin has gone absolutely CRAZY! This barbarism must end NOW!”
Russia just unleashed the largest drone attack of the war on sleeping Ukrainians. Putin has gone absolutely CRAZY! Stop this senseless slaughter immediately. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1798765432109876543— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 26, 2025
Ukrainian officials confirmed at least 12 civilian deaths, dozens injured and widespread blackouts. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on site in Kharkiv, decried the strike as “barbaric,” urging Western leaders to impose an immediate embargo on Russian oil and gas.
Barbaric attack. Silence is complicity. We need real, enforceable sanctions NOW. #StandWithUkraine https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1798701234567890123— Volodymyr Zelenskyy (@ZelenskyyUa) May 26, 2025
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called an emergency summit, proposing a €5 billion fund to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses, including U.S. Patriot batteries and next-generation missiles from Rheinmetall. “We must close the skies over Ukraine,” she declared.
A clear escalation requiring immediate response. EU stands with Ukraine. https://twitter.com/antonioguterres/status/1798734567890123456— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) May 26, 2025
In Washington, Senate Foreign Relations Chair Bob Menendez praised Trump’s blunt language but pressed for action: “Words matter, but deeds decide. We need swift secondary sanctions on Iranian drone components and a full energy embargo on Russia.”
“Words are welcome but deeds are essential.”—Sen. Menendez calls for energy sanctions. https://twitter.com/SenBobMenendez/status/1798723456789012345— Senate Foreign Relations (@SenateForeign) May 26, 2025
The Kremlin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, brushed off the criticism as “political theater,” insisting Russia’s “defensive measures” target military infrastructure.
Russia acts to protect its security; foreign commentary is uninformed. https://twitter.com/kremlinrussia/status/1798745678901234567— Kremlin Russia (@kremlinrussia) May 26, 2025
Meanwhile, Ukrainian volunteers worked through the night: bakers in Kherson handing out free bread to displaced families, and engineers in Zaporizhzhia racing to restore power before the next wave of attacks.
We rebuild tonight—our hands, hearts, and hope will not be broken. https://twitter.com/IvanFedorov/status/1798756789012345678— Ivan Fedorov (@IvanFedorov) May 26, 2025
On Capitol Hill, Senator Jeff Merkley announced upcoming hearings on social-media disinformation and battlefield intelligence leaks that may be aiding Russia’s targeting—a nod to Trump’s own call for declassifying intercepted communications.
Public opinion in the U.S. has shifted sharply: a Washington Post–ABC News poll shows 68 percent support for cutting off Russian energy imports, up 12 points since earlier this month.
As global leaders weigh new sanctions, Trump’s stark warning reverberates: “Stop this senseless slaughter immediately.” For Ukrainians still huddled in shelters, the hope is that this time, the world will act before the next siren.
