Dnipro, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Donetsk regions were battered by waves of Russian drone and missile attacks within 24 hours, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirming that at least 55 Shahed-type attack drones were deployed by Moscow in one of the fiercest offensives in recent weeks.
Air raid sirens echoed across Kyiv and several other Ukrainian cities twice on Tuesday, April 8, into early Wednesday, April 9, as authorities scrambled to warn civilians of incoming ballistic threats. Zelensky described the assaults as “deliberate and sustained,” accusing Russia of intentionally targeting population centers to terrorize the public.
Footage and eyewitness accounts from Dnipro and Kharkiv show plumes of smoke rising from civilian infrastructure, while emergency services worked through the night to rescue survivors trapped in the rubble. Preliminary reports indicate multiple injuries and significant property damage, although official casualty figures are yet to be disclosed.
Zelensky, addressing the nation via a post on his official X handle, made an urgent plea to the United States, NATO, and European Union leaders to break their silence and escalate coordinated pressure on the Kremlin. “We need immediate and decisive action, not just statements,” he warned, stressing that Russia’s unchecked aggression could spiral beyond Ukraine’s borders.
Military analysts believe the timing of the renewed assault aligns with Russia’s push to regain momentum on the eastern front, where Ukrainian resistance has stalled Kremlin advances. Many of the drones used were Iranian-made Shahed-136s, known for their low-cost, high-damage capabilities.
This week’s bombardment underscores the increasingly brutal nature of Russia’s aerial strategy, which has shifted toward overwhelming Ukraine’s defenses with cheap but deadly unmanned aircraft, often flown in swarms during early morning hours when visibility is poor and defenses less reactive.
As global attention appears to drift from the prolonged war, Ukraine’s leadership is determined to keep the crisis in international focus. “This isn’t just about Ukraine anymore,” Zelensky stated. “Every city bombed, every child displaced, is a test of the world’s moral resolve.”
