Russia Intensifies Attacks On Ukraine, Summer Travel Season, Wildfire Forecast

Summary

Up First from NPR – May 26, 2025

NPR's Up First delivers the three biggest stories to start your day, featuring reporting and analysis from NPR News. In this episode, hosts Michelle Martin and Amy Martinez cover the intensification of Russian attacks on Ukraine, the commencement of the summer travel season amidst air traffic control challenges, and the early wildfire forecast highlighting concerns over federal firefighting resources.

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1. Russia Intensifies Attacks on Ukraine

Escalation of Airstrikes

Ukrainian officials have reported that Russia has launched its largest airstrike since the inception of the ongoing conflict. Over the past three days, Russia deployed hundreds of drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian cities, resulting in the deaths of at least twelve people, including children, and causing extensive destruction to homes. Joanna Kakisis, NPR’s correspondent in Kyiv, provides a firsthand account:

“[...] here in Kyiv, we consider ourselves lucky if after all that, we are only sleep deprived. Here's what woke up last night. That's the sound of Ukraine's air defenses shooting down, drones buzzing over our neighborhood.” (02:44)

Context of Prisoner Exchange

These attacks occurred mere hours before a significant prisoner exchange— the largest since Russia's full-scale invasion began over three years ago. The exchange involved 1,000 prisoners of war from each side and took place amidst international diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire. Despite these developments, Kakisis states:

“Have the diplomatic efforts to end the war made any headway? No.” (04:11)

Political Reactions and Blame

The escalation has drawn sharp criticism from former President Donald Trump, who took to social media to denounce Russian President Vladimir Putin, declaring he had “gone absolutely crazy” (02:38). However, Trump's remarks also shifted blame onto Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former President Joe Biden, insisting they share responsibility for the war's continuation.

Human Impact of the Conflict

The human toll of the conflict was poignantly illustrated during the prisoner exchange. Kakisis described the returning soldiers as "sickly and gaunt," with some bearing physical and emotional scars from their captivity. The emotional reunions were heartbreaking, as families eagerly awaited the return of their loved ones, many of whom remain unaccounted for:

“One young soldier, Anton Kobylnik, told us he'd been in captivity for three years. He's saying, I won't really feel like I'm at home until I see my mom.” (04:56)

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2. Summer Travel Season Amidst Air Traffic Challenges

Record-Breaking Memorial Day Travel

As Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, a record 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home this holiday weekend, breaking a two-decade-old record. Joel Rose, NPR’s transportation reporter, highlights:

“It's mostly because of a record number of Americans driving this weekend. Drivers will find gas prices at their lowest levels on Memorial Day since 2021.” (06:24)

Air Travel Outlook and Infrastructure Issues

While driving numbers are set to soar, air travel presents a more uncertain picture. Although air travel demand is forecasted to be up about 12% compared to pre-pandemic levels, several challenges loom:

• Technical Problems at Newark Liberty International Airport: Recent radar and communication outages have led to hundreds of flight cancellations, delays, and diversions. Additionally, a nationwide shortage of over 3,000 air traffic controllers exacerbates the issue. Joel Rose explains:

  “The FAA has now capped the number of flights in and out at Newark at a level that the agency says is more in line with what air traffic control can handle.” (08:08)

• Safety Concerns and High-Profile Incidents: Earlier in the year, a mid-air collision at Washington Reagan National Airport and a hard landing in Toronto raised alarms about aviation safety.

Adjustments and Optimism from Airlines

In response to these challenges, the FAA is implementing measures such as installing new fiber optic lines and backup systems, and accelerating the hiring and training of air traffic controllers. United Airlines, which considers Newark its largest international hub in the U.S., remains optimistic that these adjustments will mitigate delays:

“United says it's optimistic that these new limits on the number of flights should reduce delays this summer.” (08:41)

Real ID Requirement

This Memorial Day marks the first travel period since the implementation of the REAL ID requirement. While TSA is currently allowing travelers without a REAL ID to fly, they caution that such passengers may experience delays and additional screening:

“Officially, that means you cannot just show up with a standard driver's license or state ID at airport security. In practice, TSA is still allowing people without a real ID to travel, but they say you may experience delays and have to go through some additional screening if you don't have the updated Real ID.” (09:14)

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3. Early Wildfire Forecast and Federal Response Concerns

Above-Normal Fire Potential

The federal government has predicted an above-normal wildfire risk in much of the western United States and some southeastern states for the upcoming summer. Initial fires have already ignited in the Midwest and Arizona, with significant efforts to contain these early outbreaks.

Impact of U.S. Forest Service Staff Cuts

There is growing concern that reductions in the U.S. Forest Service staff, initiated by the Trump administration, could hamper firefighting capabilities. Ryan Hindschus, News Director at KNAU in Flagstaff, Arizona, elaborates on this issue:

“It's a worry that the hotshot crews and others could ultimately be short staffed. And when these big wildfires do pop up, the personnel just won't be there to adequately respond.” (12:44)

Current Firefighting Efforts and Forecast

Despite staffing concerns, firefighters have managed to control early fires effectively. For instance, a significant blaze in Arizona's White Mountains was contained by proactive fireline construction anticipating heavy winds. Hindschus notes:

“At its height, more than 700 personnel were fighting it, and they pulled off what I think was a bit of a miracle by building miles of fireline in anticipation of heavy winds.” (10:23)

Future Fire Predictions

Forecasters indicate that areas such as the Southwest, southern Nevada, Utah, Colorado, central and Southern California, eastern Washington, the Idaho panhandle, Texas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Florida are particularly vulnerable due to below-average snowfall last winter, leading to drier conditions. Hindschus emphasizes the critical role of experienced Forest Service personnel, many of whom have left or been furloughed, in managing these risks.

“Sources have been telling NPR that some of the people who either chose to leave or were fired from the Forest Service are among the most experienced in leading wildland firefighting crews.” (12:48)

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Conclusion

This episode of Up First underscores the multifaceted challenges facing the United States and the international community. From the intensified conflict in Ukraine with profound human and political implications, to the bustling summer travel season fraught with infrastructure and safety concerns, and the looming wildfire season exacerbated by federal workforce reductions—the stories highlight critical issues requiring vigilant attention and responsive action.

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For more in-depth reporting and updates, subscribe to Up First+ and support your local NPR station at donate.npr.org.

Transcript

[Michelle Martin]

Ukrainian officials say Russia launched its largest airstrike since the start of the conflict.

[Amy Martinez]

Sunday's attack killed 12 people and happened only hours prior to a prisoner exchange. What's it mean for potential ceasefire talks?

[Michelle Martin]

I'm Michelle Martin. That's a Martinez. And this is up first from NPR News. Memorial Day is considered the unofficial start of summer and the summer travel season. Millions will take to the roads and skies this holiday weekend. But a deadly air collision in D.C. in January and reports of air traffic traffic control outages have raised safety concerns. What should you know before you go?

[Amy Martinez]

And the summer wildfire season is here. Forecasts predict an above normal fire risk in some parts of the country, yet cuts to the US Forest Service makes fighting fires harder. Stay with us. We've got all the news you need to start your day.

[NPR Sponsor]

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[Michelle Martin]

Massive drone and missile assaults on Ukrainian cities over the weekend.

[Amy Martinez]

The attacks happened over the past three nights, even as the two countries carried out the largest prisoner exchange since Russia's full scale invasion began more than three years ago. President Trump criticized the strikes while also repeating his claim that this war would have never started under his watch.

[Michelle Martin]

Joining us to talk about all this is NPR's Joanna Kakisis, who's in Kyiv. Good morning, Joanna.

[Joanna Kakisis]

Good morning, Michelle.

[Michelle Martin]

So let's start with Russia's latest drone and missile strikes. What can you tell us?

[Joanna Kakisis]

So Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities over the past three days. And these attacks have killed at least a dozen people, including children, and injured many more and also destroyed homes. And so here in Kyiv, we consider ourselves lucky if after all that, we are only sleep deprived. Here's what woke up last night. That's the sound of Ukraine's air defenses shooting down, drones buzzing over our neighborhood.

[Michelle Martin]

Joanna, I've been hearing you report on these attacks just about every day, and they seem to be escalating. So why has Russia intensified its attacks in recent weeks?

[Joanna Kakisis]

So, Michelle, we don't really have a clear answer, but this all happened after the Trump administration brokered a 30 day ceasefire proposal in March. Ukraine agreed to it, but Russia refused unless the west stopped sending weapons to Ukra, Ukraine. And now, last month, Russian missiles hit near a playground in one Ukrainian city and the crowded downtown of another city, killing 53 civilians and all, including several children. After this weekend's attacks, President Trump criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin on social media, saying Putin had, quote, gone absolutely crazy. But Trump also slammed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former President Biden and insisted and insisted they were also to blame for the war.

[Michelle Martin]

So considering all this, have the diplomatic efforts to end the war made any.

[Joanna Kakisis]

Headway at all in terms of ending the war? No. As I said, Russia has not even agreed to a ceasefire, even after talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul a couple of weeks ago. The only breakthrough out of those talks was an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war from each country, an exchange which took place this weekend.

[Michelle Martin]

And you were there for this latest prisoner exchange. What tell us about that. What kind of condition were the Ukrainians in?

[Joanna Kakisis]

So, Michelle, they all looked sickly and gaunt. Their clothes were just hanging off them, Their heads were shaved. We don't know yet what these soldiers endured in Russian captivity. But other Ukrainians imprisoned by Russia have described horrific conditions. They were starved, beaten and tortured.

[Michelle Martin]

And what was the scene as these soldiers came home?

[Joanna Kakisis]

Well, it was incredibly moving and also heartbreaking. Families were gathered in this leafy courtyard in northern Ukraine, waiting to see if their loved ones would be among the soldiers getting off these chartered buses. 18 year old Melena Moroz held a photo of her father, who has been missing since February. And she broke down when we talked. She's saying, I wish I had told him, I love you, dad. So when the buses carrying the soldiers arrived, the families rushed to hug them as they walked out. One young soldier, Anton Kobylnik, told us he'd been in captivity for three years. He's saying, I won't really feel like I'm at home until I see my mom. We only saw a handful of these reunions, however, Michelle. Most family members were left waiting in tears, including 18 year old Melena Moroz. Her father is still missing.

[Michelle Martin]

Oh, that's so tragic. That's NPR's Joanna Kakissis in Kyiv. Joanna, thank you.

[Joanna Kakisis]

You're welcome.

[Amy Martinez]

The summer travel season is underway with millions of Americans on the move over the long holiday weekend.

[Michelle Martin]

But there are also some big questions about the summer travel season, including whether the nation's fragile air traffic control system can handle the surge.

[Amy Martinez]

NPR's Joel Rose covers transportation. So, Joel, what kind of numbers are we expecting from this Memorial Day weekend?

[Joel Rose]

Big ones. The forecast from AAA is that we will see a record this holiday weekend with 45 million Americans traveling at least 50 miles from home that is expected to break a record that has stood 20 years. And it's mostly because of a record number of Americans driving this weekend. Drivers will find gas prices at their lowest levels on memorial day since 2021, according to GasBuddy. Air travel is not quite expected to break the all time record, but it is still forecast to be up about 12% compared to the levels before the COVID pandemic, according to aaa. So the demand for holiday travel this weekend is definitely there.

[Amy Martinez]

You know, Joel, summer and airline travel go hand in hand. So what's the outlook for the skies?

[Joel Rose]

Airlines went into this year very optimistic about 2025 and they were expecting strong demand. But a lot of things have happened to cut into that optimism. The forecasts for international travel have softened because of political tensions between the US and other countries. There's a lot of concern that travel from Canada and Europe to the US Will be down this summer. Also, we have seen some very high profile problems in the aviation system itself. You had the mid air collision at Washington Reagan National Airport in January between a regional jet and a military helicopter. And a few weeks later there was hard landing in Toronto where another regional jet flipped over on the Runway. And in recent weeks, we have seen hundreds of flights canceled or delayed or diverted around Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey outside New York City because of several radar and communication outages in the facility that manages that airspace. Also, there's a shortage of air traffic controllers in Newark and really across the whole country. And all of this is creating a lot of uncertainty around air travel this summer.

[Amy Martinez]

So speaking of Newark, what's new there?

[Joel Rose]

The FAA has now capped the number of flights in and out at Newark at a level that the agency says is more in line with what air traffic control can handle. The FAA says it's working to install new fiber optic lines and adding new backup systems to help with the technical problems in Newark. The FAA says it's also trying to speed up hiring and training of new air traffic controllers. But, you know, the reality is that it takes years to train them to work and in complex and congested airspace. And the system nationwide is more than 3,000 controllers short. So there's no quick fix there.

[Amy Martinez]

So is Newark Airport ready for the summer travel season? I mean, what's going on?

[Joel Rose]

Federal regulators and aviation industry experts say it is safe to fly through Newark and so does United Airlines. And this is a very big deal for United because Newark is a major hub. In particular, it is United's biggest international hub in the country. So United says it has seen some customers trying to avoid Newark rebooking to other airports in the New York area and to other airlines. But United says it's optimistic that these new limits on the number of flights should reduce delays this summer.

[Amy Martinez]

Now, anything else travelers need to know about?

[Joel Rose]

This is the first Memorial Day since the REAL ID requirement took effect. Officially, that means you cannot just show up with a standard driver's license or state ID at airport security. In practice, TSA is still allowing people without a real ID to travel, but they say you may experience delays and and have to go through some additional screening if you don't have the updated real id.

[Amy Martinez]

Joel Rose covers transportation for npr. Thanks, Joel.

[Joel Rose]

You're welcome.

[Amy Martinez]

The summer fire season has already kicked off with some significant fires in the Midwest and Arizona.

[Michelle Martin]

The latest wildfire forecast from the federal government is predicting above normal fire potential in much of the west and some southeastern states. There's heightened concerned this year because the Trump administration has been cutting staff at the U.S. forest Service, the nation's lead wildland firefighting agency.

[Amy Martinez]

Watching all of this closely is Ryan Hindsus, the news director at KNAU in Flagstaff, Arizona. So, Ryan, your station has been reporting on a pretty big fire there in Arizona already, which the US Forest Service responded to. How's that going?

[Ryan Hindschus]

Yeah, this was a big one. More than 20,000 acres in the rural White Mountains of eastern Arizona. At its height, more than 700 personnel were fighting it, and they pulled off what I think was a bit of a miracle by building miles of fireline in anticipation of heavy winds. Fortunately, they were successful in keeping the fire from progressing toward local communities.

[Amy Martinez]

All right, that's good. That's good news. Now, it sounds like concerns about the federal response might not kick in unless it's a busy summer for fires and lots of places are competing for personnel to fight them. What's the forecast there?

[Ryan Hindschus]

Well, forecasters say the Southwest, along with parts of southern Nevada, Utah and Colorado are facing higher than normal potential for wildfire over the next month or so. You know, a lot of people in Rocky Mountain states, including us here in Flagstaff, are worried because it was a below average year for snowfall and that can really create especially dry conditions. Elevated fire danger is also predicted in parts of central and Southern California and will stretch up into eastern Washington and the Idaho panhandle, along with parts of Texas and Oklahoma. Even some mid Atlantic states, Minnesota and Florida, are facing possible wildfires.

[Amy Martinez]

Yeah. Living in Los Angeles, Ryan, I know that we are constantly in fire season. Doesn't matter what time of the year it is. Now, the Trump administration says there's nothing to worry about because the jobs that that have been cut to the Forest Service were not to frontline firefighting staff. But a lot of people say it's not that simple. So what are you hearing?

[Ryan Hindschus]

Well, it really remains to be seen how layoffs will affect firefighting this season. And yes, it's true that frontline firefighters were spared from the Doge staffing cuts earlier this year. But an unknown number of Forest Service employees who do contribute to firefighting work were affected, those with what are known as red cards. These are employees who don't typically work in fire but can hop in if needed. They're especially important with wildfire starts that are near communities to really beef up the firefighting staff. Full time firefighters are still out there doing the hard work, of course, but there's a worry that the hotshot crews and others could ultimately be short staffed. And when these big wildfires do pop up, the personnel just won't be there to adequately respond.

[Amy Martinez]

Wow. All right. So what are you going to be watching for as this fire season unfolds?

[Ryan Hindschus]

We're going to see what the federal response is like, of course. Sources have been telling NPR that some of the people who either chose to leave or were fired from the Forest Service are among the most experienced in leading wildland firefighting crews. Some of those folks with the red cards I talked about, even though firefighting isn't their full time job, they spend a lot of time doing it and are in leadership positions.

[Amy Martinez]

That's Ryan Hindschus, the news director at KNAU in Flagstaff, Arizona. Ryan, thanks.

[Ryan Hindschus]

Thank you. A.

[Amy Martinez]

And that's up first for Monday, May 26th. I'm Amy Martinez.

[Michelle Martin]

And I'm Michelle Martin, thanks for waking up with npr. Your NPR station makes up first possible each morning. Support their work and [e-mail] UpFirst Today's.

[Amy Martinez]

Episode of Up first was edited by Ryland Barton, Katherine Laidlaw, H.J. mai and Mohamed El Bardisi. It was produced by Ziad Buch, Nia Dumas and Lindsey Totty. We get engineering support from Damien Herring, and our technical director is David Greenberg. Join us again tomorrow.

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