Russia launched its deadliest aerial attack this year on Ukraine, killing at least 16 people including a child in Kyiv. The overnight assault involved nearly 700 drones and ballistic missiles targeting cities across the country.
Key Takeaways
Russia launched its deadliest aerial assault this year on Ukraine, killing at least 16 people including a child in Kyiv. Nearly 700 drones and ballistic missiles targeted cities across the country.
- At least 16 killed in Russia's deadliest attack of the year
- Overnight strikes hit Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, and other Ukrainian cities
- Ukraine downed 31 missiles and hundreds of drones during the assault
- U.S. Treasury Department sanctions waiver on Russian oil sales expired Saturday
The capital city bore some of the heaviest damage with Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reporting four fatalities, including the child. A drone struck an 18-story residential building in the Podilsky district causing widespread destruction. Regional officials reported nine deaths in Odesa and three in Dnipro where drones also hit residential buildings leaving at least 27 injured according to regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks calling for increased pressure on Russia rather than sanctions relief. He stated, 'Russia is betting on war, and the response must be exactly that: we must defend lives with all available means.' Meanwhile a U.S. Treasury Department sanctions waiver on certain Russian oil sales expired Saturday which could impact global energy markets.
Ukraine's Defense Ministry announced it had downed 31 missiles and hundreds of drones during Thursday's attack while Russia claimed to have intercepted 207 Ukrainian drones. The assault targeted critical infrastructure leaving cities like Mykolaiv and Kherson without power as damage assessments continue across affected regions.
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