Russia Launches Devastating Attack on Ukraine: Hundreds of Drones and Missiles Fired

In a significant escalation of its ongoing conflict, Russia has unleashed a large-scale assault on Ukraine, employing nearly 300 drones and 18 ballistic missiles, alongside seven cruise missiles. This latest attack resulted in the deaths of at least four individuals and injuries to a dozen more, as reported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The targeted strikes, which occurred overnight on Tuesday, primarily aimed at Ukraine's energy infrastructure, causing widespread destruction across various regions including Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Donetsk. Russia's recent bombardments have intensified, particularly focused on disrupting Ukraine's energy supply as winter grips the nation. According to DTEK, Ukraine's largest energy provider, this attack marked the eighth instance of such strikes since October, severely hampering power and heat availability for many homes. In Kharkiv, the aerial assault led to the fatalities of four people and injuries to six others when a mail depot was targeted. Rescue teams managed to extricate 30 individuals, including two who were trapped under debris. Meanwhile, Odesa faced a two-wave attack that resulted in additional civilian casualties and significant damage to essential infrastructure, including residential buildings, medical facilities, and educational institutions. As a consequence of these assaults, many households in the Kyiv region found themselves without power, resulting in an emergency response from the government. This mass drone and missile offensive followed only four days after Russia’s use of an advanced hypersonic missile, which has raised international alarm. The missile, called Oreshnik, was reportedly aimed at an aviation repair factory in the Lviv region, retaliating against what Moscow claimed was an attempted Ukrainian strike on a residence of President Vladimir Putin, a claim that Kyiv vehemently denies and one that the Washington administration has marked as dubious. The continued aggression from Moscow has sparked widespread condemnation among Ukraine’s allies, left many civilians in perilous situations, and raised concerns about the humanitarian crisis escalating in the region. As the conflict nears its four-year mark, such attacks highlight the ongoing challenges and tragedies faced by the Ukrainian people. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2