Russia has launched one of the largest air assaults on Ukraine since the start of the war, resulting in the deaths of at least seven people and injuring dozens more. The barrage of missiles and drones targeted more than half of Ukraine’s regions, causing widespread damage to power infrastructure and triggering blackouts across the country.
According to Mykola Oleshchuk, the commander of Ukraine’s air force, Russia unleashed 127 missiles and 109 attack drones throughout Monday. Ukraine’s air defenses managed to shoot down 102 missiles and 99 drones, but the damage from the remaining projectiles was significant. Oleshchuk described the attack as “the most massive aerial attack” to date.
The assault began overnight and continued into the morning, leaving devastation in its wake. One of the most tragic incidents occurred in Kryvyi Rih, where a Russian missile struck a civilian infrastructure building, killing one woman and leaving five others missing. Other casualties were reported across various regions, including Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Lutsk, Izyum, and Zhytomyr.
In Dnipropetrovsk, two men—aged 69 and 47—were killed in separate attacks, with others, including a 14-year-old girl, injured. In Zaporizhzhia, a man lost his life when his house was hit, while in Lutsk, an “infrastructure facility” was struck, killing one and injuring five others. The mayor of Lutsk reported that most parts of the city had no running water due to the attack. In Izyum, Kharkiv region, a man was killed by a missile strike, and in Zhytomyr, a woman died after missiles hit homes and infrastructure.
The Russian strikes were not just aimed at crippling Ukraine’s energy infrastructure but also at undermining the morale of the Ukrainian population. This latest attack follows Ukraine’s recent successful incursion into Russian territory, which had boosted Ukrainian spirits. The Kremlin’s message was clear: despite recent setbacks, Russia still holds significant power to inflict misery on Ukraine whenever it chooses.
NATO member Poland reported that an “object,” likely a drone, entered its territory during the attack. NATO condemned the Russian strikes on Ukraine and expressed concern over potential breaches of NATO airspace by Russian forces, calling them “irresponsible and potentially dangerous.”
As Ukraine continues to face relentless aggression, the resilience of its people and the support of its allies will be crucial in the ongoing struggle.