Russia Launches Massive Drone, Missile Attack on Ukraine, Killing Three

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Russia carried out a large-scale overnight assault on Ukraine, deploying about 580 drones and 40 missiles. 

The attack resulted in three deaths, dozens of injuries, and damage to infrastructure and residential areas.  

The attack targeted civilian manufacturing facilities and homes across various regions. 

Ukraine’s air defenses successfully intercepted 552 drones and 31 missiles, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. 

Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war, which began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022, hostilities have escalated in recent months.

“All night, Ukraine was under a massive attack by Russia,” Zelenskiy said. “Every such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to terrorise civilians and destroy our infrastructure.”

Russia denies targeting Ukrainian civilians.

In the central city of Dnipro, a missile with a cluster munition hit a residential apartment building, Zelenskiy said.

One person was killed, and at least 26 people were injured in Dnipro, regional officials said.

Two people were also killed in the Chernihiv region in the north and the Khmelnytskyi region in the west of the country, regional officials said.

“I could hear the ‘Shahed’ (drone) getting closer and closer. I understood it was flying towards us. My child and I were very frightened,” Yulia Chystokletova, a resident of Kyiv, told Reuters.

“It should not be happening in the 21st century. We are all people. Agree… sit down at the negotiating table.”

Reuters