Ukraine Reports Largest Assault Since War Outbreak: Details Inside

The Ukrainian capital of Kyiv experienced its most intense night-time bombardment since the war began in February 2022, as reported by the city. Yuri Ignat, a military spokesperson, revealed on national television that this marked the highest number of drones ever deployed by the enemy in a single assault. The military stated that the attack involved 539 drones and 11 missiles launched by Russia.

Kyiv was the primary target of these attacks. Out of the 550 projectiles, 478 were intercepted nationwide. However, there were also nine missile hits and 63 drone strikes reported.

President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack on X (formerly Twitter) as “deliberately massive and cynical.” He said, “It was a brutal, sleepless night,” emphasizing that “Russia once again shows it does not intend to stop warfare and terror.”

At least 23 individuals were injured, with 14 requiring hospital treatment, as shared by Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko on Telegram. Initially, authorities reported a total of 14 injured. Among the casualties was a ten-year-old girl, according to the civil defense service.

The bombardment caused damage to residential buildings, educational and medical facilities, and transportation infrastructure. Several cars were also hit. Damage to railway tracks led to delays in train services, officials noted.

The attacks, which lasted over eight hours, ended just before 5:00 AM, according to Mayor Klitschko. Buildings caught fire across large parts of the city area. Damage was reported in six of Kyiv’s ten districts on both sides of the Dnipro River. “Preliminary information indicates several fires in the Solomjanka district,” wrote military administration chief Tymur Tkachenko on Telegram. All fires involved residential buildings. Drone-caused damages were also observed in other districts. Anti-aircraft fire could be heard throughout the city for hours.

“There are many targets over Kyiv. We are combating Russian drones in all districts,” stated Tkachenko. ARD correspondent Vassili Golod reported “heavy explosions” and a “terrible night” in the Ukrainian capital. “The entire city smells of smoke,” said Golod.

According to President Zelensky, “the capital was the main target of this Russian attack.” He added that the attack impacted not only Kyiv but also the regions of Dnipro, Sumy, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Kyiv.

Meanwhile, Russia reported Ukrainian attacks on its territory: In the Moscow region town of Sergiyev Posad, two individuals were injured in a drone attack, authorities said. The Russian Defense Ministry announced that a total of 48 Ukrainian drones had been destroyed that morning.

Just the day before, at least five people were killed in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine due to Russian attacks, according to the military governor of the area, Vadym Filashkin. Two men were killed in the front-line town of Pokrovsk, while three others died in the villages of Bilyzke and Illiniwka.

Russia also reported attacks yesterday: In the southern Russian Rostov region, a senior citizen was killed in a Ukrainian drone attack. Although the air attack was repelled, a multi-story building in the village of Dolotinka was damaged, stated Governor Yuri Slyusar on Telegram.

Additionally, news came from Russia on Thursday that the deputy chief of the Russian navy, Mikhail Gudkov, was killed in a missile attack in the Russian region of Kursk.