Russia Launches Largest Drone Assault of Ukraine War Over Two Days

Russia has launched what Ukrainian officials describe as the largest aerial assault since the beginning of the war, bombarding Kyiv and several other cities with hundreds of drones and missiles over a two-day period.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia deployed more than 1,560 drones since Wednesday, alongside dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles aimed at critical infrastructure and residential areas across the country.

The attacks heavily targeted the capital Kyiv, where explosions rocked multiple districts overnight. Ukrainian authorities said at least 11 people were killed nationwide, including several civilians in Kyiv, while dozens more were injured.

Ukraine’s air force reported that air defense systems intercepted hundreds of incoming drones and missiles, but several strikes still hit residential buildings, power facilities, transport infrastructure, and industrial sites.

Officials said more than 180 locations across Ukraine sustained damage during the attacks, including over 50 residential buildings. Emergency services continued rescue operations in Kyiv after parts of an apartment block reportedly collapsed following a strike.

Other cities including Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy, and regions in western Ukraine also came under heavy bombardment. Local authorities reported disruptions to electricity and water supplies in several areas.

The massive assault comes amid ongoing international diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and follows renewed tensions between Moscow and Kyiv after intensified Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure in recent weeks.

Ukrainian officials accused Russia of deliberately attempting to overwhelm the country’s air defense systems by launching waves of drones before missile strikes.

The escalation has renewed calls from Kyiv for additional Western military support, particularly advanced air defense systems capable of intercepting large-scale drone and missile attacks.

The latest bombardment is being described by military analysts as one of the most intense phases of aerial warfare since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.