Russia launched a series of drone strikes across Ukraine overnight, resulting in at least four fatalities and injuring 20 individuals in the capital, Kyiv, according to Ukrainian officials.
“Kyiv experienced another assault involving UAVs and ballistic missiles. Emergency services are addressing the aftermath in several areas throughout the city,” the State Emergency Service of Ukraine announced via Telegram.
Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that four individuals have died in the capital, with 20 others injured, 16 of whom were hospitalized.
Multiple fires erupted in various districts due to the shelling, affecting a residential building, a civil infrastructure facility, and a metal hangar.
The strikes also impacted the western city of Lutsk and the Ternopil region.
“Today, the enemy executed the largest air attack on our region to date, with multiple strikes occurring,” Ternopil’s regional military administration chief Vyacheslav Negoda reported.
“We have started to extinguish fires and assess the damage and other consequences,” he added.
The shelling in Lutsk resulted in five injuries.
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“We also have numerous broken windows in private residences, several educational institutions, and one damaged government building,” stated the city’s mayor, Igor Polishchuk, on Telegram.
Damage to buildings and vehicles was also reported in the western city of Khmelnytsky, according to the region’s governor.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has promised retaliation following a recent drone attack by Ukraine on Russian territory, which destroyed billions of dollars worth of nuclear-capable bombers.
In a related situation, Ukrainian strikes overnight in Russia injured three individuals in the western Tula region.
Russian air defense forces intercepted a drone approaching Moscow, as reported by the capital’s mayor.
“In total, an attempted assault involving ten enemy drones targeting Moscow has been successfully thwarted,” Mayor Sergei Sobianin stated.
Mr. Putin appeared to dismiss the possibility of a ceasefire or any direct dialogue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Ukrainian leader mentioned that Russia had presented Ukraine with an “ultimatum,” demanding a complete withdrawal from four regions that Russia claims to have annexed but does not fully control.
