Russia Launches Over 500 Drones and Missiles on Ukraine in Major Assault

Russian forces have unleashed one of the largest aerial offensives in months, firing more than 500 drones and missiles across Ukraine, primarily striking the country’s western regions and triggering widespread power outages, Ukrainian officials confirmed on Wednesday.

Details of the Attack

• Scale of assault: Ukraine’s air force reported that Moscow launched 502 drones and 24 missiles.
• Target areas: Explosions were reported in the capital Kyiv, as air defence systems engaged incoming drones.
• Damage and casualties:
  • In the northern Chernigiv region, 30,000 people were left without electricity following strikes on civilian infrastructure, according to Governor Vyacheslav Chaus.
  • In the Kirovograd region, four railway workers were wounded and over a dozen residential buildings damaged.
  • Regional authorities in western Ukraine confirmed several people were injured, with homes and civilian facilities hit.
• Confirmed strikes: “Three missiles and 69 strike drones hit in 14 locations, and the debris of downed projectiles fell in 14 locations,” the Ukrainian air force reported.

The large-scale bombardment coincided with two major international events:

Since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has faced near-nightly drone and missile barrages, many of which deliberately target civilian infrastructure.

• Scale of destruction: The attacks continue to inflict widespread damage on Ukraine’s power grid, transport networks, and housing.
• Human toll: The war has become the deadliest conflict in Europe since the Second World War, claiming tens of thousands of lives and displacing millions.

The latest wave of strikes underscores both the intensity of Russia’s ongoing aerial campaign and the mounting strain on Ukraine’s defences, as its international allies seek to bolster security assistance.