At least 12 people were injured following a major Russian drone assault on two Ukrainian cities—Kyiv and Mykolaiv—late Wednesday night, according to Ukrainian officials.
In the capital, Kyiv, two women sustained injuries as drones targeted residential areas and a storage facility, sparking a large fire and damaging several buildings. The Kyiv city military administration confirmed the attacks, noting that the destruction extended to private homes and civilian infrastructure.
Meanwhile, in the southern port city of Mykolaiv, 10 individuals were reported injured. Vitalii Kim, the regional governor, said the drones caused significant damage to nine apartment complexes, 30 garages, and an administrative building. He described the attack as one of the most intense in recent weeks.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched a total of 145 drones in this overnight operation. Of those, 85 were intercepted and shot down by Ukrainian defense systems. An additional 49 failed to reach their targets, likely disrupted by Ukraine’s electronic warfare systems. However, the military did not provide details about the fate of the remaining 11 drones.
The skies above Kyiv saw the presence of 30 drones during the night, 16 of which were successfully neutralized. Others either exited the airspace or lost control mid-flight, the air force added.
Russia has consistently denied targeting civilians throughout its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022. However, attacks like this continue to take a heavy toll on Ukrainian citizens and infrastructure. Thousands have been killed or injured since the beginning of the conflict, with drone strikes becoming an increasingly common tactic in Russia’s military playbook.
This attack underscores the persistent threat facing Ukraine’s cities, especially as the war continues with no immediate end in sight. It also highlights Ukraine’s growing reliance on electronic warfare and air defense technologies to mitigate the effects of Russian aerial assaults.
Authorities in Kyiv and Mykolaiv have begun efforts to repair the damage and support the victims. Local emergency services have cleared the affected areas and relocated residents whose homes were destroyed or rendered unsafe.
As tensions between the two nations remain high, international attention is once again focused on Ukraine’s call for more defense support and humanitarian aid.
