12 Dead, Dozens Hurt in Massive Russian Missile and Drone Strikes Across Ukraine

Kiev : At least 12 people, including three children, were killed and dozens more injured in a major overnight missile and drone attack launched by Russia across various regions of Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities confirmed on Sunday.

The assault involved a massive barrage of cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drones, striking targets in multiple regions and causing widespread destruction. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 56 cruise missiles, nine ballistic missiles, four guided missiles, and 298 combat drones. Ukrainian air defense reportedly intercepted 45 cruise missiles and 266 drones, but several projectiles still reached civilian areas.

In the Kiev region alone, four people were killed and 23 others injured, with most casualties reported from villages around the capital, Ukraine’s National Police stated in a Telegram post. The capital city was hit for the second night in a row, leaving 11 more people injured and causing damage to residential buildings, according to Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

The northern Zhytomyr region witnessed the tragic deaths of three children. Meanwhile, four people were reported dead in the western Khmelnytskyi region, and one fatality occurred in the southern Mykolaiv region, said the State Service for Emergencies.

This latest wave of attacks highlights the continuing escalation in Russia’s military campaign against Ukraine. While Ukrainian air defenses managed to intercept a large number of incoming threats, the sheer scale of the assault overwhelmed some areas, leading to significant civilian casualties and structural damage.

The incident underscores the vulnerability of Ukraine’s urban and rural communities, even with strengthened defense systems. It also raises concerns over the increasing use of drones and missiles in civilian-populated areas, drawing fresh condemnation from international observers.

This marks one of the deadliest strikes in recent months, as tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue unabated. Ukrainian authorities have pledged to assist affected families and are assessing the full extent of the damage.