At least three people have been killed and more than 30 injured in a massive overnight Russian aerial attack on Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky says.
He describes the attacks as part of a deliberate strategy aimed at intimidating civilians and destroying vital infrastructure, with some missiles hitting residential buildings directly.
Ukrainian air forces reported that Russia launched 619 drones and missiles, while the Kremlin claimed its strikes targeted military-industrial facilities using precision weapons. In contrast, Russian officials stated that four people were found dead following a Ukrainian drone strike in the Samara region, where a major oil refinery was struck.
Zelensky's remarks highlighted that numerous regions, including Dnipro, Mykolaiv, and Kyiv, were targeted, with a significant impact reported in Dnipro where the missiles caused catastrophic damage to a high-rise residential building.
Footage has been verified showing the missile's flight and subsequent impact, along with the destruction it wrought in the area.
In retaliation, Ukraine stated its drones successfully struck Russian oil facilities, including targets in the Samara and Saratov regions. Cross-border drone raids have increasingly marked the ongoing conflict, as Ukrainian forces focus on crucial industrial sites to weaken Russia's war capabilities.
Both nations continue to escalate military actions; Ukraine has made direct hits within Russia while Moscow persists in flying combat operations over Ukraine's major urban centers.
This escalating confrontation raises pressing concerns among NATO members and intensifies discussions over potential interventions and supports for Ukraine amidst continuous appeals for a ceasefire by Kyiv and its allies.
