Russia launched a series of missile and drone strikes targeting multiple cities across Ukraine during the night from Wednesday to Thursday. Explosions were reported throughout Kyiv as the assault progressed throughout the day. According to the Russian Defence Ministry, this operation involved a “massive” strike aimed at military-related infrastructure in nine cities, including industrial sites, oil refineries, logistics hubs, and port facilities.

The assault comes at a critical juncture for Ukraine, which is currently grappling with a severe shortage of US-made Patriot air defence missiles necessary to counter the threat posed by Russian ballistic missiles. In addition, Moscow’s increasing use of jet-powered drones is adding further pressure on Ukrainian defences. Ukrainian officials report that Russia has been amassing missile stockpiles and initiating significant strikes every few days to overwhelm Ukrainian defence capabilities.

Civilians Affected by Strikes

The recent bombardment has resulted in damage to civilian areas, including residential buildings. In the southern Zaporizhzhia region, a 78-year-old woman was killed, and at least nine others sustained injuries in various locations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the situation via social media, stating that Russia continues to invest heavily in its missile capabilities and that additional countermeasures are essential. He also referred to commitments made earlier in the week by European nations to enhance air defence support for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy emphasised the necessity of augmenting air defence measures with further ballistic missile defence packages through European acquisitions of weapons from the United States. He was scheduled to visit Moldova on Thursday to commemorate the country’s national day, which marks its 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union; Ukraine declared independence in the same year.

Concerns about potential escalations are growing among Russia’s Eastern European neighbours, especially following reports of drone flights violating their airspace. Moldova’s Defence Ministry indicated that five drones entered its territory overnight, although they did not attribute the incident to any specific party.

Ukraine’s Response and Ongoing Operations

In response to the attacks, Ukraine’s air force claimed to have intercepted or suppressed seven Russian ballistic missiles, although the specifics of the interception were not disclosed. In Kyiv, four districts experienced shelling overnight, which resulted in damage to residential blocks, a school building, and a medical facility; however, local police confirmed no casualties occurred.

In addition to the strikes in Kyiv, the central Poltava region was targeted by Russian forces, striking industrial and energy infrastructure as per reports from regional military administration head Vitalii Diakivnych. The southern Odesa region also faced a significant wave of Russian attacks that lasted over seven hours, damaging a 16-storey residential building, two educational establishments, and a grain elevator.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has continued its long-range drone operations against Russian targets. The Russian Defence Ministry reported that its air defences intercepted 267 Ukrainian drones across 14 regions, including illegally annexed Crimea, the Sea of Azov, and the Black Sea. In recent months, Ukrainian drones have shifted focus from large warehouses owned by Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, to targeting Ozon, the second-largest e-commerce company. Ozon confirmed that its logistics facilities in Orenburg and Ufa were attacked, but neither facility caught fire.

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