Russian Drone and Missile Strike on Ukraine Claims Lives of at Least 12, Officials Report

KYIV, Ukraine — For the second consecutive night, Kyiv and various regions in Ukraine faced a substantial attack from Russia, resulting in at least 12 fatalities and numerous injuries. According to officials, this incident involved 367 drones and missiles, marking the largest single assault since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, as noted by Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Air Force.

The scale of the assault was unprecedented, comprising 69 missiles of different types and 298 drones, including Iranian-designed Shahed drones. The attack targeted over 30 cities and villages, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasizing that ordinary residential buildings were among the casualties, and he called for increased international sanctions against Russia.

Zelenskyy highlighted that without significant pressure on the Russian leadership, such brutality is likely to continue. He expressed a strong need for determination from the United States and European nations in pursuing peace.

The attacks coincided with a planned prisoner swap between Ukraine and Russia, a rare instance of cooperation amid ongoing hostilities. This exchange of prisoners has been one of the few tangible outcomes from recent peace talks in Istanbul, which otherwise yielded no ceasefire.

In Kyiv, the sound of explosions was relentless as air defense forces engaged in intercepting enemy drones and missiles. Reports indicated casualties in various regions, including three children in Zhytomyr and several deaths in other areas such as Khmelnytskyi and Mykolaiv.

The severity of the situation was palpable, with local authorities responding to numerous fires and significant damage to infrastructure. Despite the prisoner exchange, which saw additional soldiers returned to both sides, fighting along the front line has remained intense.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in substantial military losses, with no signs of a ceasefire as hostilities continue unabated.