Russia launched one of its largest overnight aerial assaults on Ukraine on Thursday, firing more than 70 missiles and over 280 attack drones, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The strikes killed at least eight people, including children, and left dozens injured as explosions were reported across multiple regions of the country.
In a statement posted after the attacks, Zelenskyy said Russia used a combination of ballistic and cruise missiles along with hundreds of drones in a coordinated assault targeting cities from eastern to western Ukraine. He said Ukrainian air defence systems intercepted more than 260 drones and a significant number of missiles, preventing even greater destruction. However, several projectiles penetrated the country's defences, causing severe damage to residential buildings and infrastructure.
The deadliest strike occurred in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where six people, including three children, were killed after a missile hit a residential area. Another person was killed in Kyiv, while one more fatality was reported in the Poltava region. In the western city of Lviv, missile strikes damaged apartment buildings, injuring more than two dozen residents. Emergency crews continued rescue operations throughout the day, searching for survivors trapped beneath rubble.
The widespread bombardment also prompted neighbouring Poland, a NATO member, to scramble fighter jets after an unidentified object was detected near its airspace during the attack. Polish authorities later began investigating debris found near the border, although officials have not confirmed whether it originated from a Russian missile.
Zelenskyy renewed his appeal to Ukraine's Western allies for additional air defence systems, particularly Patriot missile batteries and interceptor missiles, arguing that stronger defensive capabilities are essential to protect civilians from increasingly frequent Russian attacks. The Ukrainian leader said timely military assistance remains critical as Moscow continues large-scale missile and drone strikes.
Meanwhile, Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had targeted Ukrainian military infrastructure, including airfields and weapons facilities, and claimed the strikes were aimed at military objectives. Moscow has consistently denied deliberately targeting civilians, despite repeated reports of casualties and damage to residential areas during the conflict.
The latest barrage comes as the war enters another intense phase, with both sides escalating long-range attacks. Ukraine has also stepped up strikes on military and energy infrastructure inside Russia, while continuing to seek greater international military support to strengthen its air defence network against ongoing Russian missile and drone campaigns.
