Zelenskyy reports massive Russian air assault across Ukrainian cities

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described a massive overnight Russian air assault that struck multiple Ukrainian regions with hundreds of drones and missiles. The attacks resulted in civilian casualties and significant infrastructure damage, including debris striking the Azerbaijani Embassy in Kyiv during one of the most intensive aerial barrages in recent months.

Scale and Sophistication of the Attack

President Zelenskyy detailed that approximately 430 drones and 18 missiles, including advanced ballistic types, were deployed in the coordinated strikes. He reported that a Zircon missile was preliminarily identified in the Sumy region, indicating the use of sophisticated weaponry. The Ukrainian leader characterized the assault as "wicked" and reiterated his urgent appeal to Western partners for additional air defense systems and interceptor missiles to protect Ukrainian cities.

Human Toll and Infrastructure Damage

The human cost of the bombardment emerged from regional reports across Ukraine. In Zaporizhzhia, regional officials reported four fatalities from hundreds of strikes on 20 settlements. Kherson region witnessed extensive shelling of 36 settlements, resulting in one death. Meanwhile, in Kyiv, missile strikes triggered fires in several districts, killing one person and injuring at least 24 others, with evacuations conducted from damaged high-rise buildings. The attacks also disrupted power supplies, leaving 16 settlements without electricity in the Kirovohrad region.

Cross-Border Strikes and Escalating Conflict

The massive Ukrainian air defense effort coincided with Russia's claim of having shot down 216 Ukrainian drones overnight across several Russian regions and the Black Sea. Authorities in the Russian city of Novorossiysk declared a state of emergency following a drone attack, highlighting the expanding geographical scope of the conflict as both sides employ increasingly long-range strike capabilities.