In a chilling escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war, Moscow unleashed a relentless drone assault on Kyiv just hours after Donald Trump’s stunning victory in the U.S. presidential election. The attack, which lasted a grueling eight hours, targeted five districts of the Ukrainian capital and left a trail of destruction in its wake.
According to sources on the ground, the eerie whine of Iranian-made Shahed drones filled the predawn skies above Kyiv around 6 a.m. local time. Air defense units sprang into action, their machine guns and explosions echoing through the city center as they desperately tried to shoot down the incoming missiles. Despite their efforts, falling debris set a high-rise building ablaze and shattered windows, injuring one person in the process.
A Grim New Reality for Ukraine
The drone attack, which has become a near-nightly occurrence in recent weeks, underscores the grim reality facing Ukraine in the wake of Trump’s election win. Many fear that the incoming U.S. president will drastically cut military aid to Kyiv and pressure the government to make painful concessions at the negotiating table.
As one Ukrainian commentator bleakly noted on social media, “Ending the war, huh? That’s what everyone here wants—except Putin has other plans.” The sentiment reflects the growing anxiety among Ukrainians that their fate may now be sealed, with little hope of a favorable outcome.
Zelenskyy Congratulates Trump, Seeks Assurances
In a bid to secure continued U.S. support, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to social media to announce that he had a “great phone conversation” with President-elect Trump, congratulating him on his “historic and decisive victory.” Zelenskyy praised Trump’s “impressive campaign” and expressed hope that strong U.S. leadership would be essential for achieving a “just peace.”
However, behind closed doors, Ukrainian officials are bracing for a potential foreign policy shake-up under the new administration. Many worry that Trump, who has expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past, may be more inclined to make deals with the Kremlin at Ukraine’s expense.
Russia Demands West Accept Its Victory
As if on cue, Russia’s former defense minister Sergei Shoigu wasted no time in seizing upon the shifting geopolitical landscape. In a stark message to Western powers, Shoigu declared that they must accept Russia’s inevitable victory in Ukraine and come to the negotiating table.
“Now, when the situation in the theatre of military operations is not in the favour of the Kyiv regime, the west is faced with a choice – to continue financing it and destroying the Ukrainian population or to recognise the current realities and start negotiating.”
– Sergei Shoigu
Shoigu’s comments suggest that Moscow may demand nothing less than the removal of Zelenskyy, along with the handover of annexed territories, reparations, a buffer zone, and guarantees of Ukraine’s non-NATO status. In other words, a near-total capitulation that would leave Ukraine at Russia’s mercy.
An Uncertain Future Looms
As the smoke clears from the latest drone attack, Ukrainians are left to ponder their fate in a rapidly changing world. With a pro-Kremlin U.S. president waiting in the wings and Russia smelling blood, the future has rarely looked so uncertain.
Will Zelenskyy be able to rally Western support and keep Ukraine in the fight? Or will he be forced to accept a Russian-dictated “peace” that leaves his country dismembered and at the mercy of its invaders? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: Ukraine’s darkest hour may be yet to come.
