At least 17 people were killed and more than 100 injured in a wave of Russian drone and missile strikes across Ukraine overnight, marking the deadliest assault reported this year, according to officials.
The attacks struck multiple cities including Kyiv, Odesa, and Dnipro, damaging residential buildings and critical infrastructure while rescue operations continued amid fears the toll could rise.
In Kyiv, four people, including a 12-year-old child, were killed as explosions and fires spread across several districts, leaving debris scattered around apartment blocks and a hotel.
Emergency crews worked through smoke-filled streets as injured residents, including police officers and medical personnel, were treated following successive strikes.
Odesa reported the highest number of fatalities, with eight people killed and dozens injured after a high-rise building was hit, while regional authorities said port infrastructure also sustained damage.
In Dnipro, at least four people died and 30 were injured as residential areas were set ablaze during overnight and evening attacks.
Ukraine’s air force said it had intercepted hundreds of incoming drones and missiles, though several penetrated defenses and struck targets.
The escalation extended beyond Ukraine’s borders, with Russian officials reporting casualties following a Ukrainian drone attack on the Black Sea port of Tuapse.
Two people, including a 14-year-old girl, were killed and several others injured, while a large fire broke out at the port, which serves as a key hub for oil and bulk exports.
Ukrainian military sources claimed the strikes targeted energy and fuel infrastructure linked to Russia’s war effort, including facilities in occupied Crimea and southern Russia.
Moscow described its own offensive as a “massive” strike aimed at energy and military production sites.