Russia has launched its largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, deploying a staggering 367 drones and missiles in a single night, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. The overnight attack left at least 12 people dead — including three children — and dozens more injured, with strikes reported in 13 regions across the country.

The assault, which began late Saturday, hit 22 locations and caused widespread destruction, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to issue a stark message to global leaders.

“The brutality cannot be stopped without strong pressure on the Russian leadership,” Zelensky said. “The silence of America and others only encourages Putin.”

The Ukrainian leader’s remarks appeared to be a pointed message to former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin was interested in ending the war.

A Relentless Barrage

Ukraine’s air force reported it had shot down 45 cruise missiles and destroyed 266 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during the attack. Despite the defensive success, Russia’s sheer volume of firepower inflicted serious damage in areas including Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv.

Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, described the strike as a “combined, ruthless attack aimed at civilians.” He confirmed over 60 injuries, 80 damaged residential buildings, and 27 fires.

Among the fatalities were three siblings — aged 8, 12, and 17 — in the Zhytomyr region. Their parents are currently hospitalized. In Kharkiv’s Kupiansk district, an 85-year-old woman and a 56-year-old were also killed when their home was hit. In the wider Kyiv region, four deaths and 16 injuries were reported, including three children.

Kyiv Under Siege on Kyiv Day

In the capital, residents sought refuge in deep metro stations as drones buzzed overhead and air defence systems responded with loud explosions. Fires broke out across several residential areas, and numerous buildings, including a dormitory, sustained damage.

A BBC reporter described a block of flats destroyed just five minutes from her home.

The attack came as Kyiv was marking its annual Kyiv Day holiday — a cruel contrast to the violence unleashed across the city.

Russia’s New Tactics and Warnings

Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed it had struck military airfields, ammunition depots, and electronic warfare stations across 142 targets. The attack also highlights the evolution of Russia’s drone warfare, with newer Shahed drones reportedly equipped with more powerful explosives and advanced evasion technologies.

The previous record for a drone assault — 273 UAVs — occurred just a week earlier, underscoring Russia’s growing manufacturing capabilities and aggressive posture.

Retaliatory Drone Strikes on Russia

Meanwhile, Russia reported intercepting 110 Ukrainian drones over 12 regions and Crimea between midnight and 07:00 local time. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 12 drones aimed at the capital were shot down. In the Tula region, drone debris crashed into a residential courtyard, damaging apartments but causing no injuries.

A Weekend of War and Prisoner Swaps

The massive strike coincided with the final day of the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine since the war began in 2022. Over three days, both sides returned 1,000 prisoners each. The swap followed rare face-to-face talks in Turkey — the first direct dialogue in three years.

Yet, hopes for peace remain dim. Earlier this week, Trump and Putin held a two-hour phone call to discuss a U.S.-proposed ceasefire. While Trump described the call as productive, Putin offered only vague remarks about a future peace “memorandum,” without agreeing to a proposed 30-day truce.

As Zelensky reiterated, “The world may go on a weekend break, but the war continues — regardless of weekends or weekdays. This cannot be ignored.”

 

Source: BBC