At least 13 people have been killed after Russia launched one of its largest combined missile and drone attacks on Ukraine in recent months, targeting multiple cities overnight and triggering widespread damage, fires and emergency responses across the country.
Ukrainian officials said the assault involved hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, once again highlighting the growing intensity of long-range attacks as pressure increases on Ukraine’s air defense systems.
The latest strike prompted renewed appeals from Kyiv for additional military support while neighboring countries monitored the situation closely.
Massive Drone And Missile Attack Hits Multiple Regions
According to Ukrainian military officials, Russia launched 656 drones and 73 missiles during the overnight assault.
Ukrainian air defenses claimed to have intercepted hundreds of incoming targets, although numerous strikes and falling debris still caused significant destruction.
Authorities reported attacks affecting multiple regions including Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia.
The scale of the attack places it among the largest combined aerial assaults seen during the conflict.
Kyiv Suffers Heavy Damage And Casualties
Ukraine’s capital experienced some of the most severe impacts.
Officials reported powerful explosions throughout the city as residents sought shelter inside metro stations and emergency shelters.
Several fires broke out across different districts while temporary power disruptions affected parts of the city.
Local authorities said at least four people were killed in Kyiv while dozens more suffered injuries.
A residential building partially collapsed in one district, with emergency workers continuing searches for possible survivors trapped beneath debris.
Casualties Reported Across Other Regions
Outside the capital, local authorities in Dnipropetrovsk reported at least eight fatalities.
Additional strikes were reported elsewhere as emergency services responded to damage across multiple urban areas.
Officials said Russia used ballistic missiles during the operation, with some reports suggesting advanced missile systems may also have been deployed.
Ukraine Again Calls For More Air Defense Support
Following the attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed appeals for increased military assistance from Western partners.
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly argued that shortages of modern air defense systems make defending cities increasingly difficult as Russia expands the scale and complexity of attacks.
Kyiv has frequently warned that ballistic missiles remain particularly challenging to intercept.
Regional Security Concerns Intensify
The scale of the attack also prompted responses beyond Ukraine’s borders.
Poland confirmed it activated air defense readiness measures and launched military aircraft as a precaution during the overnight operation.
The latest assault comes only days after Ukrainian officials warned citizens about the possibility of renewed large-scale attacks and urged residents not to ignore air raid warnings.
As aerial attacks continue intensifying, the overnight assault underscores how air defense capacity remains one of the defining factors shaping the conflict’s next phase.
