Russia Fires 477 Drones, 60 Missiles at Ukraine Overnight: Kyiv Reports

In one of the largest aerial assaults since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war, Russian forces launched a staggering 477 drones and 60 missiles across multiple regions of Ukraine overnight, according to a statement from the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Saturday morning.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that most of the projectiles were intercepted by the country’s air defense systems. However, several strikes caused widespread damage to energy infrastructure, residential buildings, and transportation hubs in cities including Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Lviv.

“This was the most intense wave of aerial attacks in recent months, clearly aimed at overwhelming our air defenses,” said Yuriy Ihnat, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Air Force. “Our defenders successfully neutralized the majority of the threats, but we did suffer critical hits in a few areas.”

Civilian Impact and Casualties

Local officials in the Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia regions confirmed at least 14 injuries and 3 deaths, with emergency services working to rescue individuals trapped under rubble. Temporary blackouts and communication disruptions have been reported in multiple districts.

Power grid operator Ukrenergo confirmed that energy facilities were targeted, leading to rolling blackouts in central and eastern Ukraine. Repair crews have been dispatched, but full restoration may take several days.

Ukraine’s Response

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack, calling it a “desperate and barbaric escalation” and urged international allies to expedite the delivery of promised air defense systems and F-16 fighter jets.

“Russia is trying to turn our nights into hell, but we will not break,” Zelenskyy said in a late-night video address.

International Reaction

The attack drew swift condemnation from the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union, with calls for increased sanctions against Russia and accelerated military support for Ukraine.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg reiterated the alliance’s commitment to Ukraine’s defense, stating that Russia’s “indiscriminate targeting of civilians and infrastructure is a clear violation of international law.”

Strategic Objectives

Defense analysts believe the attacks are part of Russia’s broader strategy to cripple Ukrainian infrastructure ahead of the next phase of ground operations, particularly in the east and south of the country.

Russia has not officially commented on the overnight strike, but pro-Kremlin media suggested the attacks were a response to recent Ukrainian drone strikes on military sites in Crimea and Belgorod.