Get Guardian on GoogleAt least 16 people have been killed and dozens injured after Russia launched a wave of drone and missile strikes across Ukraine overnight, in what officials described as the deadliest attack in the country so far this year.
Ukrainian authorities said the coordinated assault hit multiple cities, including the capital Kyiv, as well as Odesa and Dnipro, causing widespread destruction, fires, and emergency rescue operations.
In Kyiv, four people, including a 12-year-old child, were confirmed dead, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. He said several districts of the capital came under repeated strikes, with drones and missiles hitting residential buildings and triggering large fires.
Emergency services battled multiple blazes across the city, while falling debris damaged homes and infrastructure. Officials also confirmed injuries among rescue workers responding to the attacks.
In the southern port city of Odesa, at least nine people were killed after a high-rise residential building was struck during successive waves of missile and drone attacks.
Regional authorities also reported damage to housing and critical infrastructure, including port facilities.
In Dnipro, at least two people were killed and around 30 others injured after strikes set apartment buildings ablaze, according to local officials.
Additional casualties were reported in surrounding areas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, saying they underscored the need for sustained international pressure on Moscow and continued military and humanitarian support for Ukraine.
Ukraine’s air force said dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones were intercepted, although several still penetrated air defences and caused significant damage across multiple regions.
Emergency operations were ongoing as rescue teams continued searching through damaged buildings, with officials warning that the death toll could still rise.
In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, authorities also reported injuries following separate drone strikes.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged the international community to intensify sanctions and support packages, warning that delays would embolden further attacks.
