Russia launched a widespread drone and missile attack across Ukraine, striking targets in Kyiv and multiple other regions in what officials are calling a "night of horror." The assault, which reportedly hit more than 30 locations across every district of Kyiv, including residential areas, prompted citizens to seek shelter in bomb shelters and underground metro stations.
Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, declared a day of mourning, with flags on municipal buildings set to be flown at half-mast. The cities of Sumy, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Cherkasy, and Kharkiv were also impacted by the strikes.
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the attack, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "war criminal." He stated that Putin "can only wage a vile and terroristic war against civilians, women, and children" because Russia has been unable to achieve results against Ukraine's Defense Forces.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed the "massive attack" was a response to Ukraine's own drone strikes on Russian territory. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the assault targeted "military or military-related facilities" and vowed that Russia would "continue increasing pressure" on Ukraine to achieve its objectives.
A European minister denounced the attack, stating, "Russia has again chosen escalation over peace with this deplorable onslaught on Kyiv, including dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones killing and injuring civilians, including children."