Russia unleashed one of its most intense aerial assaults in recent months overnight, killing at least 18 people across Ukraine, including children, and leaving more than 100 others injured as missiles and drones struck multiple cities.
The deadliest impact was recorded in the central city of Dnipro, where 12 people lost their lives after a residential apartment building was hit. Among the victims were two children, including an eight-year-old boy, while rescue workers continued searching through the rubble for survivors.
Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, also came under heavy bombardment, with authorities confirming six deaths and dozens of injuries. Residential buildings, civilian facilities, and energy infrastructure were damaged as explosions echoed across the city throughout the night.
President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as a deliberate strike on civilian targets and critical infrastructure. He said Russia launched a total of 656 attack drones and 73 missiles, including ballistic and cruise missiles, making it one of the largest coordinated attacks since the war began.
“The main strike was on Kyiv, where dozens of residential buildings and other purely civilian infrastructure were damaged again,” Zelensky said.
Large plumes of smoke rose above Kyiv as emergency crews battled fires triggered by the bombardment. Local authorities reported damage near apartment complexes, homes, construction sites, and fuel facilities, while power outages affected parts of the city.
In Dnipro, regional officials said part of the apartment block was virtually destroyed. Rescue teams later recovered the bodies of an eight-year-old boy and a woman from beneath the collapsed structure, while another child was also confirmed dead.
Kharkiv, in northeastern Ukraine, reported at least 10 injuries, including a child, after energy facilities and civilian infrastructure were struck. Further south, officials confirmed damage to an industrial facility in Zaporizhzhia as the attacks spread across several regions.
Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed the strikes were retaliation for recent Ukrainian attacks and insisted that all military objectives had been achieved. Moscow had previously warned of increased attacks after accusing Ukraine of carrying out a deadly strike on a student dormitory in Russian-occupied territory.
The latest escalation comes amid growing concerns over Ukraine’s air defence capabilities. Zelensky renewed calls for additional Western military support, particularly Patriot missile systems used to intercept incoming Russian missiles.
As the war enters another critical phase, fears are mounting that both sides are moving deeper into a cycle of retaliation, with civilians continuing to bear the heaviest cost of the conflict.
