Russia Drone Strike in Ukraine Kills 5 After Putin's Retaliation Promised During Trump Call

At least five people, including a one-year-old boy and his mother and grandmother, have been killed following a Russian drone strike in the city of Pryluky, Ukraine. The strike, which occurred in the Chernihiv region late Thursday night, ignited a large-scale rescue operation that tragically ended in heartbreak for a local first responder, whose own family was among the victims.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that six "Shahed" attack drones targeted the city, causing significant damage to residential areas. In a somber message posted on social media, Zelenskyy recounted the devastating moment when a rescuer responding to the aftermath realized one of the drones had struck his own home. "Tragically, his wife, daughter, and one-year-old grandson were killed," Zelenskyy stated, underscoring that this marked the 632nd child lost since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

The attack unfolded just hours after a highly anticipated phone conversation between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a now-deleted statement, Trump described the discussion as "good," while also cautioning that it was not a conversation likely to lead to immediate peace. He detailed that the two leaders talked about Ukraine's recent attacks on Russian airfields and conveyed that Putin had expressed his intention to respond strongly to those operations.

Observers suggest that Moscow's latest attack in Pryluky may have been a direct response to Ukraine's reported drone assaults on Russian military assets earlier in the week. On June 1, Ukraine is said to have launched drones against airfields inside Russia—including strategic sites in Serbia and the far north—damaging up to 20 aircraft according to U.S. assessments. Russian officials have since stated that efforts are underway to repair the damaged bombers.

This incident is part of an escalating cycle of retaliation that has seen both sides targeting military and civilian infrastructure, resulting in numerous casualties. In recent weeks, major urban centers like Kyiv have also been subjected to overnight strikes, with fatalities and injuries—many among children—continuing to mount.

As tensions show little sign of abating, the grim toll of this conflict continues to rise, with families and entire communities bearing the brunt of ongoing hostilities.