"Attack in Capital: At Least 12 Killed, Dozens Wounded as Russian Drones Strike Ukraine"
Russian drone and missile attacks left at least 18 dead, including children, and dozens injured across multiple Ukrainian regions overnight, authorities reported.
For the second consecutive night, the widespread strikes occurred just hours before Russia and Ukraine swapped hundreds of prisoners in the third and final part of a major exchange. This marks the first tangible outcome from peace talks that have yet to produce a ceasefire.
Three children were among the deceased, according to Ukraine's first deputy prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, who described the attacks as "another night of terror." In a post on X, she said, "Russia's targets are clear: homes, families, children."
Ukraine's air force reported that Russia bombarded the country with 298 drones and 69 missiles, marking one of the largest aerial attacks of the war since the invasion began in February 2022. The air force claimed to have downed 266 drones and 45 missiles.
Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, was one of the regions hit, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urging the US and other international leaders to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a statement, he criticized the "silence" of global leaders as encouragement for Putin.
In Kyiv, the city's administration urged residents to shelter as the attack was deemed "massive." Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said buildings, including a student dormitory in the Holosiivskyi district and a private house in the Dniprovskyi district, were damaged or destroyed.
Various regions of Ukraine were attacked, including Mykolaiv in the south, where a residential building was hit, and Odesa, where emergency responders fought fires caused by the strikes.
Meanwhile, Russia claimed to have faced a Ukrainian drone attack on Sunday and reported intercepting and destroying nearly 100 drones around Moscow and other central and southern regions. However, no casualties were reported.
Russian strikes also hit Kiev, but Ukrainian drone attacks targeted Moscow and other strategic locations, resulting in disruptions at the Sheremetyevo International Airport and damage to homes near Moscow, according to reports.
Amid the ongoing conflict, Ukrainian intelligence assesses that Russia remains committed to its war aims and continues to prepare for a prolonged conflict, as indicated by increased missile stockpiling and drone adaptations. Both sides of the conflict continue to experience considerable casualties, with tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians killed and wounded.
Sanctions against Russia are being urged by Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as he pleads with international leaders to intensify political pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, in response to the ongoing war and the devastating attacks on civilian areas. The attacks, including the latest strikes on Ukrainian regions, are seen as clear targets by Russia, with homes, families, and children being the focus.
