Deadly Drone and Missile Assault on Ukraine

Russia has launched a massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 people. The attack, which local officials describe as the deadliest in months, saw over 700 drones and missiles launched at Ukraine in multiple waves overnight.

In the southern port city of Odesa, nine people were killed, while five died in the central city of Dnipro. In the capital, Kyiv, four people, including a child, lost their lives. Additionally, two people, including a child, were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia's southern Krasnodar region.

Attack Details

The attack began with warning sirens sounding in Kyiv at 02:30 local time, followed by explosions. Images posted online show bright orange fires and huge plumes of black smoke in central areas of the city. A drone was filmed slamming into the side of an apartment block.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that a 12-year-old boy was among those killed, and 45 people were injured. Rescuers pulled a mother and child from the ruins of a 16-storey residential building that collapsed in the city's central Podil district.

In Dnipro, four people were killed, and a dozen injured, according to regional head Oleksandr Ganzha. The city's Mayor Borys Filatov later announced that another body had been found. A drone strike in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv injured a 77-year-old woman and a 66-year-old man.

Two cities in the south, Mykolaiv and Kherson, have been left without power, according to local officials. Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 659 drones and 44 cruise and ballistic missiles in the prior 24 hours, with 636 drones and 31 missiles shot down.

International Response

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, stating that it proves US and European sanctions against Russia should not be weakened. He emphasized the need to protect lives and press for peace.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called the attack a "war crime" and urged allies to increase pressure on Moscow and support for Kyiv. Ukraine is also seeking the release of a €90bn EU loan to support its defense needs and economy.