Russia launched a significant daytime and nighttime assault on Ukraine, deploying hundreds of drones and numerous missiles, resulting in at least 16 fatalities and over 80 injuries. This attack has left many residents fearful as they sought shelter in their homes, according to officials on Thursday.
Authorities reported that around 700 drones and dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles were used, primarily targeting civilian zones, marking one of the largest airstrikes in nearly two weeks.
Tetiana Sokol, a 54-year-old from Kiev, shared her experience. She sought refuge in her hallway with her dog while two missiles struck nearby, causing bright flashes and shattering windows. “During the third strike, everything shattered; we were in a state of shock, unsure where to flee. I grabbed what I could, took my dog, and just ran,” she recounted. “Now, I can’t locate my cats. They’ve hidden somewhere, and the dog’s really stressed out.”
Reports indicated that around 800,000 homes in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region are without power or heating due to Russia’s winter assault.
Moscow’s forces have increasingly targeted civilian regions since the full invasion over four years ago, with the UN noting more than 15,000 Ukrainian civilian deaths from these strikes.
In a related note, President Volodymyr Zelensky recently visited Germany, Norway, and Italy in search of additional air defense systems to counter Russian missiles as the recent shelling persisted.
While Ukraine has made strides in developing its own arms, particularly unmanned aircraft and missiles, it still falls short of the advanced U.S. Patriot air defense system capacity. President Zelensky indicated that securing better equipment from allies remains a top priority for Ukraine.
The nation is also in urgent need of rapid access to a 90 billion euro ($106 billion) loan promised by the European Union, which has faced delays, particularly from Hungary.
Further complicating matters, Ukraine is concerned that conflicts, such as the war in Iran, are depleting its stockpile of essential advanced U.S. systems. Additionally, Ukraine opposes a temporary U.S. waiver on sanctions against Russian oil, which it argues helps finance the ongoing war.
The U.S. has accused Russia of escalating the situation dangerously, especially amidst ongoing peace discussions.
President Zelensky remarked, “Once again, it has been shown that Russia shouldn’t receive a break in global policy or the lifting of sanctions.” This week, he expressed gratitude to Germany, Norway, and Italy for their commitment to bolster Ukraine’s air defense.
However, he pointed out that some partner nations have yet to fulfill their military aid obligations. “I’ve instructed the Air Force commander to reach out to partners who had promised missiles for systems like the Patriot,” Zelensky noted.
The recent bombing was one of the most extensive in recent weeks, with Russia previously launching 948 drones and 34 missiles within a 24-hour period. Overnight, at least four people, including a 12-year-old boy, were killed in Kiev, with over 50 injured. Damage was reported across 17 apartment buildings, alongside numerous private homes, hotels, office centers, and more.
President Zelensky condemned a Russian drone strike on a passenger train as an “act of terrorism.” The recent attack also affected cities like Odessa, where nine people died, and the Dnipropetrovsk region, where three women were killed. One person also died in Zaporizhia.
“These types of attacks cannot become normal; they are war crimes and need to be halted, with those responsible held accountable,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibikha stated.
The Ukrainian Air Force claimed it had either shot down or neutralized 667 out of 703 targeted aircraft, including many unmanned vehicles.
Interestingly, in Russia, Governor Veniamin Kondratyev of the Krasnodar region reported casualties from a Ukrainian strike on the Black Sea port of Tuapse, indicating that two fatalities occurred, including a 14-year-old girl. The attack resulted in damage to multiple residential buildings and schools.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense mentioned its air defense structures intercepted 207 Ukrainian drones during the night.
