Russia's Overnight Barrage Kills Four, Injures Dozens Across Ukraine; Kyiv and Lviv Hardest Hit
Ukrainian officials have reported at least four fatalities and multiple injuries following a large-scale overnight assault by Russia. Hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles were deployed across the country, with the capital, Kyiv, and the western Lviv region among the areas significantly impacted. Russia stated these attacks were in retaliation for a claimed Ukrainian drone strike on President Vladimir Putin's residence last month, a claim rejected by both Ukraine and the United States. During the attacks, Russia reportedly used its new Oreshnik ballistic missile for the second time in the conflict.
The extensive overnight attacks caused widespread damage, resulting in at least four confirmed fatalities and dozens of injuries, disrupting essential services amid freezing temperatures.
Attack Details and Casualties
The extensive overnight attacks affected multiple districts in Kyiv. Ukrainian officials confirmed at least four fatalities and between 22 and 25 injuries in the capital. Among the deceased was an emergency medical aid worker, and five rescue workers sustained injuries while responding to strike sites. Apartment buildings were struck, leading to damage. Approximately 6,000 apartment buildings, representing about half of Kyiv's total, experienced heat outages amid temperatures around minus 8 degrees Celsius (17.6 Fahrenheit), and water supplies were also disrupted. The Qatari Embassy in Kyiv also sustained damage. Specific incidents included a drone crashing onto a multi-story building's roof in the Desnyanskyi district, and drone parts damaging a multi-story building and causing a fire in the Dnipro district.
In the western Lviv region, Mayor Andriy Sadoviy confirmed a ballistic missile struck critical infrastructure. Ukrainian Security Service investigators identified missile debris in the region, stating it was fired from Russia's Kapustin Yar test range and targeted civilian infrastructure. Russian media and military bloggers, however, indicated the Oreshnik missile struck a large underground natural gas storage facility in the area.
Oreshnik Missile Deployment
Russia announced the use of its new Oreshnik ballistic missile during the attacks, marking its second reported deployment in the ongoing conflict. The missile was first tested by Russia in November 2024 against a Ukrainian factory. Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the Oreshnik as having multiple warheads that travel at speeds up to Mach 10, making them difficult to intercept. He also stated that a conventional strike using several Oreshnik missiles could be as devastating as a nuclear attack and that the missile can carry nuclear weapons. President Putin previously warned Western allies that Russia might use the Oreshnik against them if they allowed Ukraine to strike inside Russia with longer-range missiles.
Broader Context and Other Civilian Casualties
These widespread attacks occurred amidst other recent Russian aerial activity and a warning from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about Russia's intent for a large-scale offensive.
In a separate incident in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, a Russian drone strike on a home in the town of Bohodukhiv resulted in the deaths of a 34-year-old father and his three young children. The family's 35-weeks-pregnant mother sustained minor burns and injuries but survived. The drone was identified as a Geran-2, a Russian-made version of an Iranian Shahed drone. Public records indicate no Ukrainian military infrastructure near the affected house. Bohodukhiv mayor Volodymyr Bielyi declared three days of mourning.
Additional reports indicated casualties in other regions:
- In the northern Sumy region, two individuals were killed and nine wounded, including two children, in drone attacks.
- Five people were wounded in a residential area in the southern Zaporizhzhia region.
- Six people were wounded in the Kherson region.
According to the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, 2,514 civilians were killed and 12,142 wounded in a period described as the most fatal for civilians since 2022, marking a 31% increase from the previous year.
International Reactions and Diplomatic Context
Russia's Defense Ministry stated the attacks were in retaliation for a Ukrainian drone strike on President Putin's residence last month, a claim that Ukraine and U.S. President Donald Trump have rejected.
European leaders condemned the attacks as "escalatory and unacceptable," with the EU's top foreign policy envoy stating that Russia's response to diplomacy was "more missiles and destruction."
UK Defense Secretary John Healey, who was visiting Kyiv, noted that Russian drones targeted residential areas. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a "clear response" from the international community, particularly from the U.S. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced plans for international action, including urgent meetings of the U.N. Security Council and the Ukraine-NATO Council. Pope Leo XIV, speaking at the Vatican, urged the international community to continue efforts for peace and to end suffering in Ukraine.
The attacks coincide with reports of progress towards a U.S.-led peace agreement focused on defending Ukraine from further aggression, and a reported deterioration in relations between Moscow and Washington following Russia's condemnation of a U.S. seizure of an oil tanker and U.S. President Donald Trump's support for sanctions against Moscow.
Ukrainian Defensive Efforts and Counter-Actions
President Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is implementing "many changes" to counter Russia's aerial attacks, focusing on short-range air defenses, training, and troop replenishment. Ukraine faces challenges including a reported shortage of personnel against Russia's larger army, with some reports citing wide-scale desertions and draft dodgers. Zelenskyy has urged Western partners for more sophisticated air defense systems and missiles.
Military aid to Kyiv decreased by 13% last year compared to the 2022-2024 annual average, largely due to a halt in American weapon shipments. However, European countries increased their military aid by 67% during the same period, as reported by Germany’s Kiel Institute. Foreign humanitarian and financial aid also saw a 5% decrease last year.
In response to Russian launches, Ukraine's air force reported 129 long-range Russian drone launches starting Tuesday night. Concurrently, a Ukrainian drone attack reportedly caused a fire at an industrial plant in Volgograd, Russia, and damaged an apartment building. Eight Russian airports temporarily suspended flights overnight due to drone attacks.