Rudolph Angler Russian forces launched a massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine for the second consecutive night, targeting Kyiv and several other cities. The strike killed at least 12 people and injured dozens more. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia used 69 missiles and 298 drones during the overnight assault. Spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat confirmed that Iranian-designed Shahed drones were part of the coordinated attack. Authorities described this as the largest single aerial strike since the conflict began in February 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks as deliberate strikes against civilians. He stated that missiles and drones hit over 30 cities and villages across Ukraine, including Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Kharkiv. “These strikes destroyed homes and shattered ordinary lives,” Zelensky said, urging Western allies to increase sanctions against Russia. “Only serious pressure can stop this brutality,” he added.
The assault caused widespread destruction. In Kyiv, four people died, including three children, when drone debris started fires. Authorities also reported 16 people injured in the capital. Four civilians died in Khmelnytskyi in western Ukraine, and one man was killed in Mykolaiv, according to regional officials.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the attacks as the most intense in weeks. Drone wreckage ignited fires in homes and businesses, and emergency services worked through the night and into Sunday morning to control the damage and help survivors. Local governments began damage assessments in the affected areas as residents mourned and cleared debris.
The heavy strikes came days after a major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine. Although the swap was seen as a diplomatic breakthrough, fighting continued unabated along the 1,000-kilometer front line, with both sides suffering military losses. Neither Russia nor Ukraine has shown signs of reducing attacks or seeking compromise.
Russia’s Defence Ministry reported shooting down 110 Ukrainian drones overnight. Several Moscow airports, including Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky, temporarily closed flights after detecting incoming drones. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that air defenses intercepted six drones headed for the capital. Russian officials emphasized that maintaining airspace security remains a priority.
This ongoing wave of drone and missile strikes highlights the continued escalation of the conflict and its heavy toll on civilians and infrastructure across Ukraine. As violence persists despite diplomatic efforts, pressure mounts on international partners to respond firmly.