Russia launched one of its largest aerial attacks of the war overnight, firing hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles across Ukraine in strikes that killed at least 18 people and wounded more than 100, according to Ukrainian authorities.
The barrage targeted multiple cities, including Kyiv and Dnipro, marking the third major assault on the Ukrainian capital in less than a month. The attack comes amid escalating tensions following a deadly drone strike on a dormitory in Russian-occupied Luhansk last month, which Moscow blamed on Kyiv. Ukraine has denied involvement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched 656 drones and 73 missiles during the overnight offensive, including ballistic and hypersonic missiles. He described the assault as a clear signal that Moscow intends to continue its campaign unless Ukraine receives stronger air defence support from its allies.
“This was a large-scale attack and an absolutely clear statement from Russia: if Ukraine is not protected from ballistic and other missile strikes, these attacks will continue,” Zelenskyy said.
The renewed offensive highlights the growing intensity of the conflict as diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire remain stalled. United States-led negotiations have failed to produce a breakthrough, while both sides continue to pursue military objectives on the battlefield.
Kyiv and Dnipro Bear the Brunt
Kyiv was the primary target of the overnight attacks. Local officials said six people were killed and more than 60 injured in the capital, including three children. Residential buildings, a kindergarten, a medical clinic, office complexes and administrative facilities were damaged.
The strikes also disrupted electricity supplies to approximately 140,000 residents, according to energy company DTEK.
In the southeastern city of Dnipro, authorities reported 12 fatalities, including two young boys, after a missile strike partially destroyed a four-storey apartment building.
Images released from affected areas showed residential blocks engulfed in smoke and debris as emergency workers searched for survivors.
“We couldn’t understand what was happening — some kind of apocalypse,” said Kyiv resident Olha Mudra, who survived one of the attacks with her six-year-old daughter.
Calls for More Air Defence Systems
Zelenskyy renewed his appeal to Washington for additional Patriot missile defence systems, warning that Ukraine’s current stockpile of interceptors is becoming increasingly strained.
Last week, the Ukrainian president reportedly sent a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump and members of Congress requesting additional air defence assistance. Ukrainian officials say they have yet to receive a formal response.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged Ukraine’s partners to increase pressure on Moscow through tougher sanctions and expanded military support.
“Peace efforts will only succeed when they are backed with real pressure on Moscow,” Sybiha said.
Russia Signals Escalation
The Kremlin described the war as entering a “new paradigm” and accused Ukraine of carrying out attacks against civilians in Russian-controlled territories. Moscow has recently warned of systematic strikes on Kyiv and advised foreign nationals to leave the city.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said the latest operation targeted Ukraine’s defence-industrial facilities using long-range precision weapons.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported intercepting or neutralising 602 drones and 40 missiles. However, officials did not confirm the interception of any Zircon hypersonic missiles, one of Russia’s most advanced weapons systems.
The Zircon missile is reported by Moscow to travel at speeds of up to nine times the speed of sound and has a range of approximately 1,000 kilometres.
Regional Security Concerns Grow
The scale of the attack prompted neighbouring Poland, a NATO member, to scramble military aircraft to secure its airspace.
Meanwhile, Ukraine confirmed carrying out a drone strike on the Ilsky oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region, where local authorities reported a fire following the attack.
Russian officials also said an 11-year-old boy was injured in the Belgorod region after a Ukrainian drone struck a residential property.
More than four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, the conflict remains locked in a costly stalemate. Moscow currently controls roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, while both sides continue long-range strikes deep behind enemy lines.
