Russian Forces Launch Mass Drone and Missile Attacks Across Ukraine; Expert Accuses Trump of 'Strategic Gaslighting' Regarding the Conflict

Overnight on February 19, Russian forces launched a mass drone attack on Odesa, resulting in injuries to four individuals, including a child. Civilian infrastructure, including a children's clinic and residential buildings, sustained damage. Local emergency power outages were implemented in the Odesa region, while heating was prioritized for residents in the Kyiv region. In Kharkiv, a civilian industrial enterprise was struck by a drone. No casualties were reported, but damage to equipment and property occurred in the Slobodsky district. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 167 strike drones and two Iskander-M ballistic missiles targeting 14 regions of Ukraine. Ukrainian air defense systems reportedly intercepted 106 drones. Dr. Peter Trubowitz of the London School of Economics characterized Donald Trump's stance on the Ukraine war as 'strategic gaslighting,' suggesting an effort to realign U.S.-Russian relations at the expense of Ukrainian security. He noted Trump's approach as a political maneuver to pressure Europe, exploiting its dependence on the United States.