Russian attacks battered Kyiv, Dnipro, and other cities with a combination of missiles and drones, killing at least 22 civilians and wounding 138 in a sustained overnight offensive. The strikes began late at night and continued past dawn, leaving destruction and casualties across central and eastern Ukraine.
The Ukrainian air force reported that the Russian assault involved 73 missiles and 656 drones. Despite Ukrainian defenses intercepting or neutralizing a majority of these — including 40 missiles and more than 600 drones — the scale of the attack overwhelmed missile shields in several areas. Central Ukrainian city Dnipro suffered the heaviest blow, with 16 fatalities, including a 3-year-old child and a woman and her 8-year-old son pulled from rubble after their apartment was destroyed.
Ukrainian authorities confirmed six civilian deaths in the capital, Kyiv, where explosions and missile alerts forced residents into shelters. Emergency responders continue to sift through debris amid ongoing threats. Kyiv officials reported dozens hospitalized, many wounded by shrapnel and collapsing structures. One local mother described sheltering with her child in a bathtub during the attack, narrowly escaping injury despite shattered windows and damaged homes.
This surge in Russian air attacks reflects a marked escalation in Moscow’s campaign to pressure Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin appears to be intensifying strikes as Kyiv’s air defense capabilities remain stretched, partially due to depleted Western arms stocks. Recent use of hypersonic ballistic missiles such as the Oreshnik indicates a shift toward more sophisticated weaponry aimed at overwhelming Ukrainian defenses.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the U.S. and European allies to increase military support, warning that Ukraine’s current vulnerabilities invite continued missile strikes across civilian areas. He framed Moscow’s barrage as an overt message that without enhanced air defense systems, attacks on civilian populations will persist.
Authorities in Dnipro have declared a day of mourning to honor the victims, even as fresh drone strikes hit residential buildings. The renewed wave of attacks underscores the challenges Ukraine faces in defending its cities amid prolonged conflict and growing technological sophistication from Russian forces.