The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia attacked with 656 drones and 73 missiles during an overnight barrage. Authorities across Ukraine say the strikes caused civilian deaths, numerous injuries and damage to infrastructure, while emergency services and air defences remained active in multiple regions.
Local officials described a chaotic night of explosions and warnings, with residents urged to remain in shelters. Ukraine’s leadership had previously cautioned the public about the possibility of a large-scale assault, and the scale of this attack has prompted renewed concern about the conflict’s impact on population centres and critical systems.
Human toll and regional impact
Kyiv officials said the capital suffered civilian casualties and damage during the assault. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that at least four people were killed in the city and that 58 people were wounded, including two children. The mayor urged residents to heed air-raid warnings, noting that shelters and air defence operations were active as explosions were heard across the city.
In central Ukraine, authorities in the Dnipro area confirmed additional fatalities and injuries. Dnipropetrovsk Governor Oleksandr Ganzha said five people were killed and 25 were wounded, with three of the injured in serious condition. In the northeast, Kharkiv’s mayor reported that ten people were injured, including at least one child.
Wider civilian disruption
Beyond the immediate casualties, the strikes affected energy and transport infrastructure in several regions, disrupting services and complicating emergency response. Many residents spent the night in shelters after government warnings about the potential for a broad strike, and officials emphasized that air-defence units were engaged to intercept incoming threats.
Official claims and military statements
The Russian Ministry of Defence characterized the operation as a massive strike, saying it used high-precision weapons to target what Moscow described as Ukraine’s military-industrial complex. The ministry stated that strikes were aimed at facilities in Kyiv and the regions of Zaporizhia, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk, as well as at infrastructure that allegedly supports Ukrainian military logistics and energy distribution.
Ukrainian authorities, meanwhile, reported active defence measures and continued operations to minimize casualties and damage. The differing narratives from Moscow and Kyiv reflect the ongoing contest over both tactical effects and public messaging in the conflict.
Cross-border incidents and secondary fires
The night’s violence extended into incidents beyond Ukraine’s borders. Russian regional officials reported that a Ukrainian drone strike killed one person in
