Russia launches large-scale attack on Ukraine, killing at least three
Missile and drone strikes hit nine regions, targeting infrastructure and civilian sites as Kyiv reports dozens of injuries and robust downing of weapons.
Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack targeting regions across Ukraine early Saturday, killing at least three people and wounding dozens, Ukrainian officials said. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes extended across nine regions, including Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Kyiv, Odesa, Sumy and Kharkiv.
Zelensky added that the enemy's target was infrastructure, residential areas and civilian enterprises, and that a missile equipped with cluster munitions struck a multi-story building in the city of Dnipro. "Each such strike is not a military necessity but a deliberate strategy by Russia to intimidate civilians and destroy our infrastructure," he said in a post on his official Telegram channel. In the central Dnipropetrovsk region, local authorities said at least 26 people were injured, and several high-rise buildings and homes were damaged in Dnipro. In the Kyiv region, authorities reported strikes in Bucha, Boryspil and Obukhiv, with a home and cars damaged.
In the western region of Lviv, governor Maxim Kozytsky said two cruise missiles were shot down. Russia launched 619 drones and missiles, Ukraine’s Air Force said in a statement. In total, 579 drones, eight ballistic missiles and 32 cruise missiles were detected. Ukrainian forces shot down and neutralized 552 drones, two ballistic missiles and 29 cruise missiles. "During the air strike, tactical aviation, in particular F-16 fighters, effectively worked on the enemy’s cruise missiles. Western weapons once again prove their effectiveness on the battlefield," the Air Force said in a statement.
The scale of the attack underscored the persistent challenge Ukraine faces in defending its airspace and infrastructure as Kyiv seeks continued support from Western allies. Officials described the operation as a broad effort to degrade critical civil infrastructure and the life of the country, rather than a purely military engagement.
Officials and analysts reiterated that the strikes are part of a pattern in which Russia targets civilian facilities and utilities in addition to military targets, aiming to sow fear and disrupt daily life. The Ukrainian government said it would continue to mobilize limited air defenses and emergency services as the situation evolves.
The assault came as Kyiv has pressed its Western partners for more robust air-defense capabilities, including fighter jets and advanced surface-to-air missiles. While Ukraine has reported success in shooting down a substantial share of incoming drones and missiles, the volume of weapons launched by Russia in recent days has stretched existing defense capacities and drawn renewed international attention to the conflict.
In Dnipro and other affected cities, rescue services and local officials continued to assess damage and assist residents who lost homes or livelihoods. The government has urged residents in affected zones to seek shelter during times of intensified air activity and to follow public-safety guidance as emergency crews work to restore utilities and clear debris.
Officials cautioned that the situation on the ground could shift as emergency crews assess damage and complete repairs to critical infrastructure. The attacks also drew attention to the broader question of how far the conflict might escalate and what international response may follow, as allied countries consider additional security assurances and humanitarian support for Ukraine.
