Russia Unleashes Unprecedented Airstrike on Ukraine
Russia Launches Most Intense Nighttime Assault on Ukraine to Date
Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukraine, unleashing the largest number of drones and missiles in a single night since the war began.
Ukrainian officials reported at least 14 deaths, including three children, and dozens of injuries. The assault followed one of the most severe strikes on Kyiv in the conflict so far.
Despite repeated international appeals, Russia continues to reject calls for a ceasefire.
"Without significant pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality will not stop," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. He added, "America’s silence will only embolden Putin," apparently addressing U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has previously claimed the Russian president is interested in peace. President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022; Russia currently occupies around 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
Zelensky said rescue efforts were underway in over 30 towns and villages after the "massive" overnight barrage.
“Russia is prolonging this war and continues its daily killings,” he stated. “The world may pause for the weekend, but the war does not. It must not be ignored.”
According to Ukraine’s Air Force, the attack began at 20:40 local time on Saturday (17:40 GMT). Russia reportedly launched 367 weapons, including various types of missiles and drones. Ukrainian forces intercepted 45 cruise missiles and destroyed 266 drones, though attacks were recorded in 22 locations nationwide.
Casualties were reported across multiple regions. Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, said 13 regions were struck. More than 70 people were injured, 80 homes damaged, and 27 fires reported. He described the assault as a “ruthless, coordinated strike targeting civilians.”
Among the victims were three children—aged 8, 12, and 17—from the same family in the Zhytomyr region. Their parents are currently hospitalized. In Kupiansk, an 85-year-old woman and a 56-year-old woman were killed when their home was hit, according to Kharkiv regional head Oleh Syniehubov.
In the Kyiv region, four people died and 16 were injured, including three children. In Kyiv itself, 11 people were wounded, and several fires broke out. Residential buildings, including a dormitory, were damaged. Hundreds of residents sought refuge in the city’s metro stations as explosions echoed overhead and fires erupted across the capital.
The assault coincided with Kyiv’s annual celebration of Kyiv Day, turning what should have been a festive occasion into a scene of fear and destruction.
Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its strikes targeted military facilities, ammunition depots, and electronic warfare systems, and reported hits in 142 areas.
Ukraine continues to face an evolving threat. Russia is not only producing drones and missiles at a faster pace, but also upgrading their capabilities. The Shahed drones, for instance, are now carrying larger payloads and equipped with advanced technology to avoid detection.
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