Overnight attacks in Zaporizhzhia and Poltava kill 3, injure 16, and damage residential buildings
Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on multiple Ukrainian cities overnight on March 24, killing at least three people and injuring 16 others, local officials reported.
The strikes came hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of an imminent mass attack by Russian forces, citing Ukrainian intelligence reports.
Explosions Across Ukraine
Explosions were reported in Poltava and Zaporizhzhia just before 3 a.m. local time. Ukraine’s Air Force issued warnings of incoming Russian ballistic missiles around 2:45 a.m.
Additional explosions were reported around 4:30 a.m. in the far-western Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, according to public broadcaster Suspilne.
Casualties and Damage
Zaporizhzhia Oblast Governor Ivan Fedorov confirmed that at least one person was killed and five others injured, including in a drone attack on the city. Damage included six apartment buildings, two homes, and an industrial facility that caught fire.
In Poltava, regional Governor Vitaliy Dyakivnych reported two deaths and 11 injuries. Several residential buildings and a hotel sustained damage in the attack.
Air raid alerts were issued across nearly all of Ukraine, as Russian drones targeted multiple regions, including far-western areas. Kyiv also experienced drone explosions around 12:30 a.m., though no damage was reported.
International Response
Poland’s Air Force scrambled Polish and allied fighter jets to protect its airspace amid the strikes. Ukrainian authorities urged residents to stay in shelters as air defense systems remained active.
President Zelensky had warned earlier that a potential strike could occur late on Monday but did not provide further details on timing or targets.
Russia previously carried out a large-scale missile and drone attack on March 14, and over the winter months, it frequently targeted civilian infrastructure in attempts to pressure Ukraine.
Source: Kyiv Independent