"Another night has proven that Russia does not deserve any easing of global policy or lifting of sanctions."
— Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Russia Launches Massive Aerial Assault on Ukraine; Dozens Killed
A large-scale Russian aerial assault on Ukraine on Thursday, utilizing hundreds of drones and dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles, resulted in at least 16 civilian deaths and over 80 injuries, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack impacted multiple regions, with Ukrainian air defenses intercepting a significant portion of the incoming munitions.
Attack Details
Russian forces launched an aerial attack on Ukraine on Thursday that lasted several hours, from daytime into the night. According to Ukrainian authorities, the attack involved nearly 700 drones and dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that air defenses intercepted or disabled 667 out of 703 incoming targets, which included 636 Shahed-type drones. Officials reported that 20 strike drones and 12 missiles impacted 26 locations. The attack was described by Ukrainian officials as the largest aerial barrage in almost two weeks.
Casualties and Damage by Region
- Kyiv: At least four people killed, including a 12-year-old, with more than 50 injured.
- Odesa: Nine people killed and 23 injured.
- Dnipro region: Three people killed and approximately three dozen injured.
- Zaporizhzhia: One person killed.
In Kyiv, a resident reported that two missiles hit near her home, causing windows to shatter. The Ukrainian government stated that the attack primarily targeted civilian areas. Damage was reported to residential buildings, a hotel, an office center, a car dealership, a gas station, and a shopping mall, among other structures.
Statements
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on social media that he had instructed the Commander of the Air Force to contact partners who had previously committed to providing missiles for Patriot and other air defense systems, as some pledges had not been fulfilled.
- Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that "such attacks cannot be normalized. These are war crimes that must be stopped and their perpetrators held to account."
- The Russian Defense Ministry stated the operation was launched "in retaliation" for Ukrainian strikes inside Russia and claimed it targeted facilities associated with the Ukrainian armed forces.
- European Council President António Costa described the attack as "yet another horrendous attack" while people slept.
Diplomatic and Military Context
The attack followed Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's 48-hour trip to Germany, Norway, and Italy, where he sought additional air defense systems. Zelenskyy thanked those countries for new agreements on supporting Ukraine's air defense and noted that officials are working with the Netherlands on additional supplies.
Ukraine has expressed concern about depleting stockpiles of advanced air defense systems and has argued against a U.S. temporary waiver on Russian oil sanctions, which Kyiv states helps finance Russia's military efforts.
Broader Casualties and Incidents in Russia
According to the United Nations, more than 15,000 Ukrainian civilians have died in strikes since Russia's full-scale invasion began over four years ago.
In a related development, officials in Russia's Krasnodar region reported that a 14-year-old girl and a woman were killed in Ukrainian strikes in the Black Sea port of Tuapse. Russia's Defense Ministry stated that its air defenses downed 207 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Last month, Russia fired 948 drones and 34 missiles in a 24-hour period, which was described as the largest assault of the war on civilian areas.