At least six Ukrainian civilians were killed overnight and 11 others were wounded, including a child, after a series of Russian air and drone strikes that hit multiple regions, Ukrainian authorities said Saturday.
Drones struck eight different locations, and falling wreckage was reported in four other areas across the country, officials said. Donetsk province was the hardest hit: Governor Vadym Filashkin reported that four civilians died there as a result of the attacks.
The Kremlin has launched more than 1,300 drones over the past week, Ukrainian authorities said, part of a broader intensification of operations focused on Donetsk. Intelligence reports cited by Ukrainian officials estimate that close to 700,000 Russian troops are deployed across Ukraine, with the bulk believed to be concentrated in Donetsk, a deployment "which shows Russia's priorities," military intelligence spokesperson Andrii Yu said.
Donetsk, a partly Russian-occupied territory near the border between the two countries, has seen some of the fiercest fighting in recent weeks. Russian forces currently control roughly 70% of the region, and Moscow has increasingly targeted population centers and infrastructure in its push to consolidate control. Negotiations over the region's fate have been described by some participants as "the ball game," with Russian President Vladimir Putin demanding Kyiv cede the entire territory to the Kremlin, Ukrainian officials and analysts say.
Russian drone and missile attacks in recent days have damaged civilian buildings and disrupted services in several towns and cities. Local emergency services and medical teams responded to scenes of destruction and evacuated wounded residents to hospitals. Authorities gave no immediate breakdown of the types of drones used or the precise military objectives behind the latest strikes.
International and Ukrainian officials have repeatedly raised concerns about civilian harm amid the intensified operations in Donetsk and other contested areas. Humanitarian organizations monitoring the conflict have documented damage to schools, hospitals and housing during the campaign, and have urged all parties to take steps to protect noncombatants.
The overnight strikes add to a steady tempo of military activity that Kyiv says aims to force concessions at the negotiating table while reshaping control on the ground. Ukrainian and international leaders have called for continued support for Ukraine's defenses and reiterated demands for respect for international humanitarian law as the conflict continues to affect civilians across the country.
