In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russia unleashed a massive overnight attack on Ukraine, employing over 100 missiles and approximately 100 drones.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the assault as "vile," stating that it targeted critical civilian infrastructure across multiple regions of the country.
According to The Associated Press, the barrage, which began around midnight and continued past daybreak, appears to be Russia's most extensive attack on Ukraine in recent weeks.
The assault targeted 15 Ukrainian regions, encompassing more than half of the country. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reported that Russian forces deployed a combination of drones, cruise missiles, and hypersonic ballistic Kinzhal missiles. The attack resulted in multiple casualties, widespread damage to energy infrastructure, and forced emergency power cuts in several areas.
The Russian offensive left a trail of destruction across Ukraine, with multiple regions reporting power outages, infrastructure damage, and civilian casualties. In the capital city of Kyiv, residents experienced disruptions to power and water supplies. Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed these service interruptions were a direct result of the attack.
Tragically, at least four fatalities were reported in different parts of the country. One death occurred in the western city of Lutsk, another in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, a third in Zhytomyr in central Ukraine, and one in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region in the southeast. Additionally, thirteen individuals sustained injuries across various regions, including Kyiv, Lutsk, Mykolaiv, and Odesa.
The assault's impact extended beyond immediate casualties, with widespread blackouts and damage to civilian infrastructure reported throughout Ukraine. The Sumy region in the east, bordering Russia, experienced particularly severe power disruptions, with 194 settlements enduring complete blackouts and 19 others facing partial outages.
In response to the massive attack, Ukrainian officials called for increased support from international allies. Prime Minister Shmyhal emphasized the need for long-range weapons and permission to use them against targets within Russian territory. He argued that to halt the "barbaric shelling of Ukrainian cities," it is necessary to eliminate the launch sites of Russian missiles.
President Zelenskyy stated:
Like most previous Russian strikes, this one was just as vile, targeting critical civilian infrastructure. Most of our regions — from the Kharkiv region and Kyiv to Odesa and our western regions.
The scale of the attack prompted neighboring Poland to activate its air defenses in coordination with NATO forces. This move underscores the regional implications of the ongoing conflict and the heightened state of alert among Ukraine's allies.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that the attacks were aimed at "critical energy infrastructure facilities that support the operation of Ukraine's military-industrial complex." They asserted that all designated targets were successfully hit, framing the assault as a strategic operation rather than an indiscriminate attack on civilian areas.
Concurrently, Russian officials reported Ukrainian drone attacks on their territory. The central region of Saratov was particularly affected, with four people injured when drones struck residential buildings in two cities. The Russian military claimed to have intercepted a total of 22 Ukrainian drones over eight regions, including Saratov and Yaroslavl.
In conclusion, the massive Russian assault on Ukraine marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. The attack's wide-ranging impact on civilian infrastructure and loss of life has drawn international condemnation. Ukraine's calls for increased military support and permission to strike targets within Russia highlight the conflict's potential for further escalation. As both sides continue to exchange attacks, the international community faces mounting pressure to address the deteriorating situation and seek a path toward de-escalation and potential resolution.
