SRINAGAR: Russia launched one of its largest overnight missile and drone attacks on Ukraine early on Monday, killing at least 23 people and injuring dozens more, according to Ukrainian authorities, as reported by BBC News.
The strikes were reported by international broadcasters and news agencies, including CNN, Reuters and the Associated Press (AP), which said the attacks exposed mounting pressure on Ukraine’s air defence network more than four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion.
According to Reuters and AP, Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia fired 351 drones and 68 missiles overnight, with Kyiv remaining the principal target. The Air Force said all 29 ballistic missiles launched during the assault struck their intended targets, highlighting Ukraine’s continuing need for additional US-made Patriot air defence interceptors.
CNN, citing Ukrainian officials, reported that 15 people were killed and 56 injured in Kyiv after residential buildings were hit during the attack. In the surrounding Kyiv region, regional authorities said seven more people were killed and 21 injured. Emergency services continued search and rescue operations at damaged residential buildings where survivors were believed to be trapped beneath the debris.
According to Reuters, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to press NATO allies for additional air defence support, including more Patriot missile systems, during meetings with alliance leaders this week as Ukraine seeks to strengthen protection against continued missile attacks.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence said the intensified strikes were launched in retaliation for recent long-range Ukrainian attacks inside Russian territory, a claim carried by Reuters and other international media outlets.
Military analysts and Western officials quoted by BBC News said Ukraine has gained an advantage in drone warfare by targeting Russian logistics and supply routes. However, they noted that Russia has increasingly exploited weaknesses in Ukraine’s air defence capabilities, particularly against ballistic missiles.
International media reports said Ukraine remains heavily dependent on Patriot air defence systems to intercept ballistic missiles. Analysts told Reuters and CNN that increased global demand for Patriot interceptors, partly driven by conflicts in West Asia, has tightened supplies and added to the challenges facing Ukraine as Russia escalates its aerial campaign.
The latest bombardment marks a further escalation in the war, with both Russia and Ukraine continuing long-range strikes while intense fighting persists across multiple sections of the front line.
