Russian missile and drone strikes kill at least 10 people across Ukraine

Russia launched one of its largest attacks in months against Ukraine overnight Tuesday, killing at least 10 people and wounding around 100 others in a massive barrage involving 656 drones and 73 missiles. The strikes targeted multiple Ukrainian cities including the capital Kyiv, Dnipro, and Kharkiv, causing widespread damage to civilian infrastructure and power outages.

Ukraine's air defense forces managed to intercept 40 missiles and 602 drones during the assault, according to military officials. However, numerous projectiles broke through the defenses, causing significant destruction across the country. In Kyiv, eight districts were hit, with residential buildings and civilian infrastructure damaged. Several people were trapped in collapsed buildings.

The Kharkiv region was particularly hard hit, with 14 people injured including one child. Russian forces also deliberately struck a hospital in Konotop with a Shahed drone. In the Kherson region, one civilian was killed and seven others wounded. The attacks caused power outages in seven regions across the country.

The massive assault did not come as a surprise. President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned in recent days about Moscow's plans for a 'massive new strike.' The Kremlin had previously announced intentions to launch 'systematic strikes' on targets in Kyiv and urged foreign nationals to leave the Ukrainian capital.

Russia justified the attack as retaliation for Ukrainian 'terrorist acts' and claimed to have targeted Ukraine's military-industrial complex. Moscow said the operation included hypersonic missiles among the weapons used. Russia consistently denies targeting civilians, despite regular strikes on civilian facilities.

Ukraine has intensified its own attacks on Russian targets this year, particularly oil facilities. Zelensky stated that Ukraine was successfully implementing its plan for long-range strikes on Russian oil and military targets. On the night of May 31, Ukrainian forces attacked an oil refinery in the Russian city of Saratov.

The conflict has now lasted more than four years since Russia launched its offensive in 2022. Moscow has bombarded Ukraine almost daily since then, often provoking retaliation from Kyiv. Talks to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II remain stalled.

The latest escalation demonstrates how the war is increasingly focusing on both countries' energy infrastructure. While Russia systematically targets Ukrainian power plants and electrical grids, Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian oil and gas facilities. Both sides justify their strategies as militarily necessary, while civilian populations bear the brunt of the attacks.

The international community strongly condemned the latest Russian strikes. Zelensky again appealed to Western partners to impose coordinated sanctions to stop Russian attacks. Ukraine continues to request additional air defense systems and long-range weapons to defend against the ongoing bombardments.

The attack highlighted the vulnerability of Ukrainian cities despite improved air defenses. While Ukraine's military has become more effective at intercepting Russian missiles and drones, the sheer scale of the latest barrage overwhelmed defensive capabilities in some areas. The strikes on hospitals and residential areas underscore the continued targeting of civilian infrastructure, despite both sides' denials of deliberately attacking non-military targets.