Russia launched a massive drone and missile barrage on Ukraine over the weekend, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens. The attack is part of Russia’s recent escalation in the conflict, which has brought a spike in Ukrainian civilian casualties despite cease-fire negotiations.
Ukrainian officials said that nearly 300 drones were used in the attack, with 13 regions coming under attack. President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as further proof that “Russia is dragging out this war and continues to kill every day.”
The attacks are part of a recent trend of Russia targeting cities more intensively, with President Putin citing the need to defend Russian interests.
Meanwhile, Venezuela held an election for governor and legislators in Essequibo, a sparsely populated oil-rich territory that is internationally recognized as part of Guyana. Analysts say that Venezuela’s autocratic president, Nicolás Maduro, is seeking to legitimize his rule abroad and within his dissatisfied nation.
In other news, Vietnam has ignored its laws to fast-track a Trump golf complex and skyscraper project in Ho Chi Minh City, which is part of a global trend of wealthy businessmen taking on high-profile projects. The International Table Tennis Federation is investigating the campaign of a wealthy businessman who seeks to become its president.
The French Open kicked off at Roland-Garros, with Carlos Alcaraz’s tournament to lose and Aryna Sabalenka favored on the women’s side. Lando Norris won the Monaco Grand Prix in Formula One.
These are some of the top stories from The New York Times’ Morning Briefing.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/25/briefing/russia-attacks-ukraine-venezuela-guyana-trump-vietnam.html