Putin Claims Ukraine War Is Ending, Then Unleashes One of Biggest Drone Attacks
Updated
Updated · The Bulwark · May 15
Putin Claims Ukraine War Is Ending, Then Unleashes One of Biggest Drone Attacks
5 articles · Updated · The Bulwark · May 15
Days after saying Russia’s war in Ukraine was nearing an end, Vladimir Putin oversaw one of the largest drone attacks of the war against Ukrainian civilians.
The report argues the peace signal was meant to buy time for Russia’s military and cast Ukraine as the aggressor while managing pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump.
That pattern fits Moscow’s broader strategy since its failed February 2022 bid to seize Kyiv quickly: float talks, avoid unpredictability in Washington, and keep military options open.
The wider implication is that any pause would more likely help Russia rearm than mark a genuine settlement, leaving peace dependent on Ukrainian resistance and pressure on Putin at home.
Russia’s army is degraded, yet NATO fears an attack by 2029. What explains this strategic paradox?
China warns Russia on nuclear use but aids its program. What is Beijing’s true endgame in this strategic double-game?
As propaganda and reality diverge in Russia, which will break first: the Kremlin's narrative or the public's silence?
Unprecedented Russian Aerial Attack on Ukraine, May 2026: Drone Warfare, Civilian Crisis, and the Future of International Aid
Overview
In mid-May 2026, Russia launched its most massive aerial assault on Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war, deploying nearly all available air weapons and amassing an unprecedented number of attack systems for a single strike. This escalation followed a brief ceasefire period, which was urged by U.S. President Donald Trump but saw continued fighting on a smaller scale. Russia used the ceasefire as cover to prepare for the large-scale attack, demonstrating a shift in tactics and intent to regain battlefield initiative. The assault caused significant damage and casualties, highlighting the evolving and intense nature of the conflict.