KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian forces faced a devastating aerial assault Thursday as Russian military forces unleashed nearly 700 drones and dozens of missiles in a prolonged bombardment that lasted from daylight hours well into the evening, claiming the lives of at least 16 people and wounding over 80 others, according to Ukrainian officials.
The extensive attack represents Moscow’s most significant aerial offensive in nearly two weeks, with authorities reporting that Russian forces deployed close to 700 unmanned aircraft along with numerous ballistic and cruise missiles, focusing their strikes on civilian targets. Since launching its full-scale invasion more than four years ago, Russian forces have consistently targeted civilian areas in daily attacks, occasionally escalating to large-scale bombardments. United Nations data indicates that these ongoing strikes have resulted in over 15,000 civilian deaths in Ukraine.
This latest wave of attacks occurred following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent two-day diplomatic mission to Germany, Norway, and Italy, where he sought additional air defense capabilities to counter Russian missile threats. Ukraine has expressed concerns that conflicts in Iran are depleting stockpiles of sophisticated American-manufactured defense systems, while also opposing a temporary U.S. exemption on Russian oil sanctions that Kyiv believes helps fund Moscow’s military operations.
“Another night has proven that Russia does not deserve any easing of global policy or lifting of sanctions,” Zelenskyy said on X.
The Ukrainian leader expressed gratitude to Germany, Norway, and Italy for new defense cooperation agreements reached during his recent visit. He also mentioned ongoing discussions with the Netherlands regarding additional military supplies.
However, Zelenskyy noted that certain allied nations have failed to fulfill their military assistance commitments.
“I have instructed the Commander of the Air Force to contact those partners who earlier committed to providing missiles for Patriot and other systems,” Zelenskyy said.
The capital city of Kyiv suffered significant casualties, with at least four deaths including a 12-year-old child, while more than 50 residents sustained injuries, local authorities confirmed.
Tetiana Sokol, a 54-year-old Kyiv resident, described the terrifying experience when two missiles struck near her residence, forcing her to seek shelter in her hallway with her dog as explosions illuminated the darkness and shockwaves shattered windows.
“On the third attack everything broke, everything flew, we were shocked, we didn’t know where to run. I grabbed whatever came to hand and ran away with the dog,” she told The Associated Press. “I still can’t find the cats in the house, they climbed out somewhere, I don’t even know. No windows, nothing, the dog is still walking around in stress.”
Additional casualties were reported across multiple regions: nine fatalities and 23 injuries in the southern coastal city of Odesa, three deaths and approximately three dozen wounded in the central Dnipro area, and one death in southern Zaporizhzhia.
“Such attacks cannot be normalized. These are war crimes that must be stopped and their perpetrators held to account,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X.
Ukrainian air defense forces successfully intercepted or neutralized 667 of 703 incoming threats, including 636 Shahed-type drones and other unmanned aircraft, according to the country’s air force.
Military officials reported that 20 attack drones and 12 missiles successfully struck 26 different locations throughout the country.
