Russian airstrikes kill 16 in Ukraine, injure over 100 in Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro

At least 16 people were killed and 102 others injured in overnight Russian airstrikes targeting Ukraine's capital Kyiv as well as the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa regions, local authorities said Thursday. In an initial statement on Telegram, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said two people were killed and 18 injured in attacks hitting multiple districts. He later updated the death toll in the capital to four with 45 injured.

Odesa and Dnipro

In Odesa, Governor Oleh Kiper said nine people were killed and 23 injured following drone and missile strikes on the southwestern region's administrative center. Port, critical and residential infrastructure were damaged, with fires breaking out at some facilities. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, Governor Oleksandr Hanzha said three people were killed and 34 injured, with strikes damaging office buildings, residential structures and a factory in Dnipro.

Air defenses

The Ukrainian Air Force said its air defenses shot down 636 of 659 drones and 31 of 44 missiles launched by Russia overnight. Russian authorities have not commented on the claims, but the Defense Ministry said it downed 207 Ukrainian drones over six regions and the Black Sea.

Zelenskyy's response

Following the attack, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X: "There can be no normalization of Russia as it is today. Pressure on Russia must work." He accused Russia of "betting on war" and instructed the Air Force commander to contact partners who committed to providing missiles for Patriot systems.