KYIV – Ukraine woke up to another night of terror as Russia launched a major wave of drone and missile attacks across the country, killing at least three people, injuring dozens, and leaving homes and infrastructure in ruins.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the strikes on Saturday, calling it part of Russia’s deliberate campaign to “terrorize civilians and destroy infrastructure.”
Hundreds of Drones in the Sky
According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia launched around 580 drones and 40 missiles overnight, targeting residential areas, civilian companies, and critical facilities.
Air defenses managed to shoot down 552 drones and 31 missiles, but the damage was still devastating.
In Dnipro, a missile carrying cluster munitions slammed into a residential building. One person was killed and at least 26 others were injured, officials said. Two more deaths were reported in the Chernihiv and Khmelnytskyi regions.
Voices of Fear
For residents, the terror was personal.
“I could hear the ‘Shahed’ drone getting closer and closer. I understood it was flying towards us. My child and I were very frightened,” said Yulia Chystokletova, a Kyiv resident. “It should not be happening in the 21st century. We are all people. Agree… sit down at the negotiating table.”
Escalation on Both Sides
The assault reflects Russia’s new tactic—launching hundreds of drones at once instead of smaller waves, aiming to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses and strike cities far from the frontline.
Ukraine has been retaliating with its own drone attacks, hitting deeper into Russian territory. Overnight, Ukrainian forces targeted oil refineries in Saratov and Samara, sparking fires and explosions.
“We have drones, we know how to produce them. Once the numbers match Russia’s, they will feel the fuel shortages,” Zelenskyy told reporters.
International Ripples
The strikes also rattled NATO’s eastern flank. The Polish military confirmed that Polish and allied aircraft were deployed Saturday to secure Polish airspace after Russian missiles targeted areas close to the border.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its “high-precision weapons” struck Ukrainian military-industrial facilities overnight.
A War With No End in Sight
Despite ongoing diplomatic talks aimed at ending the war that began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the fighting has only grown more intense. Towns and villages in eastern Ukraine continue to face relentless bombardment as Russian troops push forward.
For millions of Ukrainians, nights like these are a grim reminder that the war is far from over—while the world watches, waiting for peace that still feels painfully out of reach.
