Overnight Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine killed at least four people and injured 17 others, according to local officials.
In Kyiv, a ballistic missile attack early Saturday killed two people and wounded 13, said Timur Tkachenko, head of the city’s military administration. Ukraine’s emergency service reported that three of the injured were hospitalized. The service also noted that a fire erupted in a non-residential building in one area, while intercepted missile debris fell in an open space elsewhere, breaking windows in nearby buildings.
During the assault, Mayor Vitali Klitschko posted on Telegram, “Explosions in the capital. The city is under ballistic attack.”
In the Dnipropetrovsk region, two people died and seven were injured, according to acting regional governor Vladyslav Haivanenko. He added that the strikes damaged apartment buildings, private homes, an outbuilding, a shop, and at least one vehicle.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia fired nine missiles and 62 drones, with air defenses intercepting four missiles and 50 drones. Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry claimed its air defenses shot down 121 Ukrainian drones overnight.
These attacks followed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s appeal on Friday for the US to extend sanctions from two Russian oil companies to the entire sector and to provide long-range missiles for counterstrikes against Russia. Zelenskyy was in London meeting with two dozen European leaders who have promised military support to protect Ukraine from future Russian aggression if a ceasefire is reached.
Hosted by Keir Starmer, the meeting sought to increase pressure on Vladimir Putin, building on recent actions like new US and European sanctions targeting Russia’s crucial oil and gas export revenues. Discussions also focused on safeguarding Ukraine’s power grid from near-daily Russian attacks as winter nears, improving Ukrainian air defenses, and supplying Kyiv with long-range missiles capable of hitting deep inside Russia. Zelenskyy has specifically urged the US to provide Tomahawk missiles, an option that has previously interested President Donald Trump.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the overnight Russian strikes in Ukraine designed to be clear concise and helpful for a general audience
Basic Information
1 What happened
Overnight Russia launched a series of missile and drone strikes on various locations in Ukraine resulting in the deaths of at least four people and injuries to others
2 Where did these attacks occur
The strikes targeted multiple regions across Ukraine Specific cities and infrastructure are often hit but the exact locations can vary with each attack wave
3 How many people were killed or injured
According to initial reports at least four people were killed The number of injured is often higher and can change as rescue operations continue
4 Why is Russia attacking Ukraine
Russias fullscale invasion which began in February 2022 is rooted in a complex history and Russias stated goals of demilitarizing Ukraine and preventing it from joining NATO which they see as a threat Ukraine and its allies view it as an unprovoked war of aggression
Details and Context
5 What kind of weapons are being used in these strikes
Russia often uses a combination of weapons including cruise missiles ballistic missiles and Iranianmade Shahed drones which are also known as kamikaze drones
6 What is typically targeted in these overnight attacks
Strikes often focus on critical infrastructure like power plants and electrical grids military facilities and tragically sometimes residential areas leading to civilian casualties
7 How does Ukraine defend against these attacks
Ukraine uses a multilayered air defense system that includes Westernsupplied systems like Patriots and IRIST as well as their own Sovietera systems to shoot down incoming missiles and drones
8 Is this a new escalation or has this been happening for a while
While the war has been ongoing since 2014 the largescale frequent overnight bombing campaigns against cities and infrastructure across the country became a regular feature after the fullscale invasion in 2022
Broader Impact and Response
9 What is the international community doing about it
Many countries are providing Ukraine with military aid humanitarian assistance and imposing severe economic sanctions on Russia to cripple its warmaking capabilities
