Children among victims as Russia Launches another Massive Drone and Missile Assault Across Ukraine
Russian forces carried out one of the most intense air assaults in recent months, striking Ukrainian cities and villages across at least seven regions with missiles, guided bombs, artillery, and drones. The coordinated attacks killed at least nine civilians, including children, and injured dozens more.
The worst-hit region was Zaporizhzhia region, where five people were killed, according to regional authorities. Among the dead were three women in the village of Ternuvate, killed when Russian forces shelled civilian areas. A 9-year-old girl was killed, and a 16-year-old girl injured, in a separate missile strike on the village of Dolynka. A guided aerial bomb also killed a man in Novoslobidka. At least nine other civilians in the region were wounded, and significant damage was reported to homes, cars, and a local shop.
In Kharkiv region, Russia launched a barrage of Shahed drones, unguided rockets, and guided bombs, targeting frontline and rear settlements. Six people were injured in strikes across the region, with damage reported to dozens of private residences and critical infrastructure.
Kherson region also came under heavy fire. Russian troops attacked more than 30 towns and villages, killing three people and injuring 10. The assaults destroyed or damaged homes, a gas pipeline, garages, and civilian vehicles. Russian forces used artillery, drones, and air-dropped explosives to strike the region.
In Sumy region, drone strikes injured at least six civilians, including two children. Local officials confirmed that a 7-year-old boy was among those wounded.
Dnipro region saw damage to homes, rescue center and farmland following multiple attacks in the Nikopol district.
The assaults were accompanied by a large-scale aerial bombardment across Ukraine overnight. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia launched a mix of weapons including:
- 472 Shahed-type drones
- 3 Iskander-M ballistic missiles
- 4 cruise missiles (Kh-101 and Iskander-K)
Ukrainian air defenses shot down 382 drones and 3 cruise missiles, while 172 additional drones were neutralized by electronic warfare.
While civilian casualties dominated the day’s toll, reports also emerged of a Russian missile striking a Ukrainian military training ground, killing 12 soldiers and injuring more than 60. Following the incident, Ukraine’s Ground Forces commander Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi resigned.
The escalation comes amid intensified Russian efforts to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses and sow disruption ahead of planned diplomatic meetings. Local officials and international observers described the breadth and coordination of the attacks as a clear demonstration that Russia’s strategy increasingly targets civilian infrastructure alongside military positions.
Ukrainian authorities continue to urge residents to remain alert to air raid warnings and have renewed calls for increased Western support for air defense systems.
