Intense Drone and Missile Strikes Hit Ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine – Russia launched a relentless assault on civilian areas in Ukraine, deploying hundreds of drones and numerous missiles over the course of several hours, resulting in at least 16 deaths and over 80 injuries, as frightened residents took cover in their homes, according to officials on Thursday.
Authorities indicated that around 700 drones and dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles were fired, mainly targeting civilians, marking the most extensive airstrike in nearly two weeks.
Tetiana Sokol, 54, a resident of Kiev, described finding refuge in her hallway with her dog as two missiles struck nearby, causing flashing lights and shattering windows. “With the third attack, everything broke, everything flew, we were shocked and didn’t know where to run. I grabbed everything I could, took my dog, and ran away,” she recounted. “I still can’t find the cats. They must be hiding somewhere. I don’t know. There are no windows, and my dog is stressed out.”
Since the full-scale invasion began more than four years ago, Moscow’s forces have repeatedly targeted civilian regions, with a consistent pattern of attacks interspersed with larger ones. The United Nations estimates that more than 15,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed due to these strikes.
This bombardment followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent 48-hour visit to Germany, Norway, and Italy in search of additional air defense systems effective against Russian missiles.
Although Ukraine has made significant advancements in its domestic arms manufacturing, especially in unmanned aircraft and missile production, it still falls short of the sophistication found in the U.S. Patriot air defense system. President Zelensky noted that securing support from allies to acquire and develop better air defense technology remains Ukraine’s top diplomatic priority.
Amid financial constraints, Ukraine is also in urgent need of the promised 90 billion euro ($106 billion) loan from the European Union, which has encountered delays due to disagreements with Hungary.
Additionally, Ukraine worries that the ongoing conflict in Iran is depleting vital stocks of advanced American systems. It has expressed opposition to a potential temporary U.S. exemption from sanctions on Russian oil, which Ukraine believes contributes to financing the Kremlin’s military actions.
“Once again, overnight, Russia has shown that it doesn’t merit any easing of global policies or the lifting of sanctions,” President Zelensky said during a TV program.
This week, he expressed gratitude to Germany, Norway, and Italy for a new agreement aimed at enhancing air defense support for Ukraine, while also noting that efforts are ongoing with the Netherlands for supplementary resources.
However, he indicated that some partner nations have yet to fulfill their commitments regarding military support.
“I’ve asked the Air Force commander to reach out to partners who previously pledged to supply missiles for the Patriot and other systems,” Zelensky added.
This recent bombing represents the largest such attack in weeks. In fact, last month, Russia launched 948 drones and 34 missiles within a single day, marking a significant escalation in attacks on civilians.
Authorities reported that at least four individuals, including a 12-year-old boy, were killed in Kyiv overnight, with over 50 others injured. Damage was reported across 17 apartment buildings and 10 private homes in the capital, as well as in hotels, office centers, car dealerships, gas stations, and shopping malls.
In the southern port city of Odessa, nine people lost their lives, while three women were killed and around 30 were injured in the central Dnipropetrovsk region. One fatality was reported in Zaporizhia.
“Such attacks must not become commonplace. They are war crimes and need to be halted, with the responsible parties held accountable,” stated Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiha.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that its defense systems successfully shot down or neutralized 667 of the 703 targeted aircraft, including 636 Shahed-type drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles.
Reports indicated that 20 attack drones and 12 missiles targeted 26 sites during these strikes.
Conversely, in Russia, Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev claimed that a Ukrainian military attack on the Black Sea port of Tuapse resulted in the deaths of a 14-year-old girl and a woman. He mentioned that six apartment buildings, 24 private homes, and three schools sustained damage from the attack, with debris from the drone landing near Tuapse port.
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that its air defense forces intercepted 207 Ukrainian drones overnight.
