Russia launched its biggest drone assault of the Ukraine war last week, sending 194 drones and 67 missiles to pummel energy infrastructure and cities, Ukraine’s air force reported, as Kyiv struggles with dwindling U.S. aid. The escalation, following Trump’s freeze on weapons and intelligence, has left Ukrainians reeling, raising fears that Moscow’s emboldened aggression could reshape the conflict and Europe’s security.
The attack, reported on June 5, targeted Kyiv, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, with Ukraine downing half the projectiles. Open-source data shows Russian forces advancing, nearly encircling Ukrainian troops in Kursk. The barrage, 30% larger than prior assaults, exploited gaps left by suspended U.S. satellite data and Patriot missile deliveries, halted in March 2025. “We’re fighting with one hand tied,” said a Ukrainian commander. Russia’s war, now in its third year, has killed over 10,000 civilians, per UN estimates, and this escalation, fueled by North Korean drones, signals Moscow’s push to capitalize on U.S. disengagement.
Trump’s talks with Putin, excluding Ukraine, have heightened fears of a forced ceasefire favoring Russia. Europe’s $150 billion aid pledge aims to fill the gap, but delivery lags. Poland’s Donald Tusk warned, “Russia’s testing our resolve.” Ukraine’s 900,000-strong army, battered but resilient, faces a Russian military bolstered by 500,000 troops freed from other fronts, per Estonian intelligence. The attack’s timing, post-Munich Security Conference, underscores Russia’s defiance amid Western disarray.
Ukrainians are defiant but strained. Kyiv nurse Olena Vasyk said, “Drones hit our power—we’re cold but won’t break.” Lviv shopkeeper Petro Ivanov fears worse: “Without U.S. help, we’re exposed.” Small EU defense firms, like a Czech drone maker, see orders surge but struggle with 10% tariff-driven costs. Analyst Ivan Klyszcz cautioned, “Russia’s exploiting Trump’s pivot—Ukraine needs Europe now.” A June 2025 poll shows 80% of Ukrainians want Western weapons, but 60% doubt they’ll arrive in time.
The assault could tip the war’s balance, forcing Ukraine to cede ground or accept a shaky peace. Europe risks a refugee surge—5 million more by 2026, per UNHCR—if fighting intensifies. Small economies like Moldova’s could buckle under aid demands. But Ukraine’s drone tactics, honed in Kursk, could blunt Russia’s edge, saving $1 billion in infrastructure losses. Europe’s rearmament, if scaled, might deter further aggression.
Russia’s next moves depend on Trump’s negotiations. EU leaders, meeting in July, aim to boost air defenses, but funding disputes persist. “We can’t let Russia dictate terms,” Tusk said. For now, Ukraine fights on, its people enduring a war growing fiercer by the day.
