Russia uses drones to drop delayed detonation cluster munitions over homes in Ukraine

Russia has taken its campaign of terror against Ukraine’s civilian population to a new level. The Kremlin is now deploying drones equipped with delayed-action cluster munitions over urban areas, including residential neighborhoods in Kyiv. These submunitions are designed not only to kill, but to terrorize—detonating unpredictably, minutes or even hours after impact, prolonging fear and endangering rescue efforts.

Overnight, these weapons were used in multiple districts of the Kyiv region. In Boryspil’s Malaya Oleksandrivka, repeated explosions followed a drone strike, while in Bortnychi, further detonations were confirmed. Authorities have urgently warned civilians to avoid any debris, as unexploded submunitions remain lethal for hours.

This tactic represents a calculated shift in Russia’s war strategy—from targeting military infrastructure to deliberately inflicting psychological trauma and physical devastation on civilian populations. The goal is not just to destroy, but to paralyze society with fear.

Night as a Weapon: Attacks on the Defenseless

Russia’s assault on Ukrainian cities has intensified in recent weeks, with near-daily missile and drone strikes timed to hit during the night, when families are most vulnerable. Cities including Kyiv, Odesa, and the Dnipropetrovsk region have come under relentless bombardment. Entire neighborhoods are being leveled while residents sleep.

In Odesa, Governor Oleh Kiper confirmed civilian casualties. The latest strikes damaged apartment buildings, private homes, a supermarket, a school, and vehicles. Emergency responders remain on the ground, providing aid to the wounded.

In Dnipropetrovsk, a drone struck the Samarskyi district, collapsing a residential building. Children were buried beneath the rubble. One girl, born in 2012, was pulled from the wreckage by neighbors but died while being transported to the hospital. Another child, born in 2019, was rescued by emergency crews and is now receiving medical care.

Kyiv endured one of the most brutal nights of attacks in recent memory. Multiple districts were struck, igniting fires and trapping civilians under debris. Emergency services worked around the clock to locate survivors. City hospitals, already stretched thin, were overwhelmed by the influx of wounded. At least 10 people were confirmed dead. More than 70 were injured—many of them children.