Russia strikes US-owned factory as Trump backs Ukraine offense
Russian cruise missiles destroyed an American-owned electronics factory in western Ukraine early Thursday, killing one person and injuring 15 in one of Moscow’s largest aerial assaults of the year. The attack prompted President Donald Trump to support Ukraine’s right to launch offensive strikes against Russia, marking a significant shift in U.S. policy as peace negotiations appear stalled.
The Texas-based company Flex Ltd., which produces consumer goods including coffee machines, confirmed its Mukachevo facility was struck by two Kalibr cruise missiles around 4:30 a.m. local time. According to the company’s statement, approximately 800 employees were on shift when the attack occurred, but all had been evacuated to designated shelters when air raid alerts sounded.
Trump Endorses Ukrainian Offensive Against Russia
Hours after the strike, Trump posted on Truth Social defending Ukraine’s need to “fight back,” using a sports analogy to justify offensive operations. “It is very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking an invader’s country. It’s like a great team in sports with a fantastic defense but no offense—there is no chance of winning,” Trump wrote. He criticized the Biden administration for allegedly restricting Ukraine to defensive operations only, adding “Interesting times ahead!!!”
The president’s comments represent a notable departure from his previous stance following last week’s Alaska meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where Trump had appeared to align more closely with Moscow’s position on ending the conflict through territorial concessions
Zelensky Calls Strike ‘Deliberate’ Attack on American Assets
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky characterized the missile strike as a calculated assault on U.S. investments in Ukraine, occurring just days after high-level diplomatic meetings in Washington. “We consider it a targeted attack specifically on American assets here in Ukraine, on U.S. investments,” Zelensky said. The facility, located 30 miles from NATO borders with Hungary and Slovakia, employed over 2,600 people and had operated for 13 years.
The attack was part of Russia’s largest overnight assault this year, involving 574 drones and 40 missiles targeting civilian infrastructure across multiple Ukrainian regions. Zelensky said the timing of the strike, coming amid international peace efforts, was “very telling” of Russia’s reluctance to engage in genuine negotiations.
