Kyiv was hit by a massive surge of Russian bullets and drone strikes overnight, leaving at least four people dead and dozens injured.
President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attacks as “wicked” and deliberately aimed at causing “maximum detriment” to civilians and structures.
The strikes, which also targeted Kharkiv and Odesa, mark one of the largest assaults on Ukraine’s capital in recent weeks, as the conflict with Russia shows no signs of decelerating.
Deadly Attacks in Kyiv and Other Cities
Kyiv was rocked overnight as Russian forces launched one of their largest attacks in recent weeks, leaving at least four dead and 27 injured in the Ukrainian capital.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strikes, calling them a “wicked” and “deliberately calculated” attempt to induce “maximum harm to people and civilian infrastructure.”
Strikes also hit Kharkiv and Odesa regions, with domestic areas across Kyiv reportedly targeted. Among the injured were a pregnant woman and a 55- time-old man in Bila Tserkva, who suffered severe injuries and remain in critical condition.
Authorities prompted residents to stay in harbors and advised them of implicit power and water outages.
Ukraine Retaliates with Long Neptune Missiles
President Zelensky announced that Ukrainian forces launched “Long Neptune” cruise missiles against designated targets in Russia.
“Overnight, our warriors successfully used ‘Long Neptunes’ against designated targets on Russian territory, and this is our entirely just response to Russia’s ongoing terror,” he wrote on X.
Zelensky highlighted the growing precision and impact of Ukraine’s missile programme, noting that strikes are “becoming increasingly effective each month.”
Russian Air Defence and Cross-Border Incidents
Russian authorities reported interdicting 216 Ukrainian drones overnight, targeting regions including Krasnodar, Saratov, and Volgograd. Some mercenary structures suffered minor damage, though Russia claimed its air defences were largely successful.
The Russian FSB claimed it had baffled a Ukrainian assassination attempt on a top government functionary in Moscow, though this has not been fully vindicated.
Independently, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) revealed that a Russian dogface had tried to enter the European Union posing as a Ukrainian exile.
He’d joined the Russian army after the annexation of Crimea and worked with unmanned systems on the southern front. Lithuanian authorities interdicted him and returned him to Ukraine.
Ongoing Civilian Impact
The attacks underline the human cost of the Ukraine-Russia war, with civilians bearing the brunt of military escalation.
European Union officials have urged Ukraine to tackle corruption, while global observers continue to call for diplomatic solutions to reduce civilian suffering.
