Kyiv – Russian defense forces launched a significant drone and missile attack on Ukraine overnight, slaying three people and wounding dozens, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday, reports 24brussels.
Zelenskiy stated on Telegram that Russia deployed around 580 drones and 40 missiles, targeting Ukraine’s infrastructure, civilian production businesses, and residential areas across various regions.
“Every such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to terrorise civilians and destroy our infrastructure,”
The Ukrainian leader emphasized the need for increased air defense systems from Kyiv’s allies and called for further sanctions against Moscow.
How many drones and missiles did Russia launch overnight?
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that its air defense intercepted 552 drones, two ballistic missiles, and 29 cruise missiles. According to their accounts, Russia launched 579 drones, alongside 8 ballistic missiles and 32 cruise missiles. Strikes were confirmed in ten separate locations.
What damage and casualties were reported across Ukrainian cities?
Explosions were reported in Pavlohrad and Mykolaiv during the initial missile attacks, followed by subsequent explosions in Dnipro. Regional Governor Serhii Lysak of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast reported one fatality and 26 injuries due to the attacks in the region, with fourteen individuals requiring hospitalization. Damage included high-rise buildings, homes, and garages, alongside fires in Pavlohrad and Nikopol.
This escalation comes just over a week after Russian drones breached Polish airspace, leading Poland’s Air Force to intercept multiple drones over NATO territory for the first time since the commencement of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
How does this attack compare to the August 2025 strikes?
The latest major attack mirrors a serious Russian offensive that occurred on August 28, 2025, when approximately 598 drones and 31 missiles targeted major Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv. Although most of these drones and missiles were intercepted, that assault claimed the lives of 18 individuals in Kyiv and caused considerable damage to civilian infrastructure.
