At least eight people, including three children, were killed in a fresh wave of Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, Ukrainian officials said, as attacks hit several regions and caused widespread damage to homes, businesses and critical infrastructure.
The overnight assault targeted multiple cities, including Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih, Lviv and Poltava, triggering air raid alerts across much of the country. Emergency responders worked through the morning to extinguish fires, rescue trapped residents and search damaged buildings for survivors.
Officials in the Dnipropetrovsk region said six of the deaths occurred in the village of Radushne near Kryvyi Rih, where a Russian ballistic missile struck a residential home. The victims included a six-year-old girl and two boys, aged 11 and 17. Two other people were killed in separate attacks on Kyiv and Poltava, while dozens of others sustained injuries.
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched more than 70 missiles and over 280 drones during the overnight bombardment. Although Ukrainian air defence systems intercepted many of the incoming projectiles, several missiles reached their targets, causing significant destruction in residential neighbourhoods and civilian facilities.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks, describing them as another assault on civilians, and renewed his call for Ukraine’s international partners to strengthen the country’s air defence capabilities. He urged allies to accelerate the delivery of Patriot missile defence systems, saying they remain vital to protecting Ukrainian cities from continued aerial attacks.
The strikes also heightened regional security concerns after Ukrainian officials alleged that a Russian cruise missile crossed into Polish airspace during the assault. Polish authorities said they were investigating after a crater and debris were discovered near the village of Tarnawa-Kolonia, although they had not confirmed whether the damage was caused by a Russian missile. Poland’s military also deployed fighter jets after detecting missiles operating close to its border.
The latest attacks came days after Zelensky visited Washington, where he met U.S. President Donald Trump and appealed for greater military support, including permission for Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles domestically. Ukrainian officials said the strikes underscored the country’s urgent need for enhanced air defence capabilities.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces had targeted military-related infrastructure, while both Moscow and Kyiv continue to deny deliberately targeting civilians. The latest bombardment highlights the continuing intensity of the war, now well into its fifth year, despite repeated international efforts to secure a ceasefire.
