Web Desk; Russia has carried out one of its largest aerial offensives since the start of the invasion, killing at least 31 people and injuring more than 160 in multiple Ukrainian cities.
The overnight barrage involved over 100 missiles and dozens of drones, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said most were intercepted by air defences.
Ukrainian Air Force chief Mykola Oleshchuk described the assault as “the most massive attack from the air” since February 2022. Army commander Valeriy Zaluzhnyi confirmed the strikes targeted critical infrastructure, as well as industrial and military facilities.
The attacks triggered an international alarm after a suspected Russian missile briefly crossed into Poland’s airspace for three minutes before re-entering Ukraine. Polish President Andrzej Duda called an emergency National Security Council meeting, while NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance stood in solidarity with Poland and was “monitoring the situation closely.”
Moscow’s envoy in Warsaw denied responsibility, claiming no proof had been provided.
In Ukraine, destruction was widespread. A maternity hospital in Dnipro was damaged, while Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia also came under fire. Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko reported three deaths in the capital and at least 10 people trapped under rubble in a warehouse. In nearby Boyarka, drone debris ignited a house fire, leaving residents traumatised.
Dnipro was among the hardest hit, where at least five people died after missiles struck a shopping centre, a residential block, and a private home. In Odesa, three more were killed and 15 injured, including two children. Lviv reported multiple fatalities and damage to three schools and a kindergarten. Zaporizhzhia officials confirmed at least one death at an infrastructure site.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called for stronger Western backing, warning that Russia “attacked with everything it has in its arsenal,” including hypersonic, cruise, and ballistic missiles. Zelenskyy said Moscow fired 122 missiles and 36 drones, of which Ukraine downed 87 cruise missiles and 27 drones.
The offensive eclipsed Russia’s previous record in November 2022, when 96 missiles were launched. Ukrainian officials believe Moscow has been stockpiling weapons to cripple the energy system during winter, with blackouts already reported in four regions.
Military analysts view the barrage as retaliation for Ukraine’s recent sinking of a Russian warship in Crimea. Retired British commander Sir Richard Barrons said it showed Moscow’s intent to strike civilian targets nationwide, while also forcing Ukraine to keep air defences around cities rather than the frontlines.
