Ukraine Reports Attack with Hundreds of Russian Drones: 2 Dead and 13 Injured

Russia launched another large-scale drone and missile attack on Ukraine during the night of Monday to Tuesday. The Ukrainian Air Force reported on Telegram that a total of 315 drones and seven missiles were involved in the assault, resulting in two fatalities and 13 injuries.

Kyiv was a primary target, with at least seven of its ten districts hit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described it as one of the largest attacks on the capital since the war began. He emphasized on X (formerly Twitter) that such attacks undermine global efforts, particularly by the U.S., to pressure Russia into peace. Meanwhile, Russia claims to have intercepted Ukrainian counterattacks.

The Ukrainian Air Force stated that 284 of the 315 drones were destroyed. Seven missiles, including two ballistic missiles of North Korean origin, were also launched, as Zelensky noted on X.

The assault on Kyiv lasted five hours, causing fires in multiple areas. Journalists from AP reported prolonged explosions and the buzzing of drones overhead, with visible smoke plumes. Residents sought refuge in metro stations, where some slept during the attack.

The port city of Odesa was also targeted, with drones striking a residential area, an emergency hospital, and a maternity ward, according to regional governor Oleh Kiper. Casualties were reported there as well.

Zelensky called on the international community, especially the U.S., for concrete actions rather than silence in response to the attacks. Meanwhile, Ukraine retaliated with drone strikes on Russian regions, including Bryansk, Moscow, and Leningrad, disrupting air traffic at several airports.

Russia has intensified its attacks following successful Ukrainian strikes deep into its territory, part of Operation Spiderweb. On the ground, Russia claims to have captured the Dnipropetrovsk region, aiming to establish a buffer zone. Prisoner exchanges between the two nations continue, but a ceasefire remains elusive.