On Friday night, Ukraine found itself under a significant wave of airstrikes as Russia executed a “massive” attack. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that over 600 drones and missiles were involved in the onslaught.
In a statement on Saturday, Russian authorities confirmed their military action, revealing that they targeted various military-industrial assets in Ukraine, specifically those involved in the Sapsan tactical missile system and producing drones, robotic combat vehicles, and other military tech.
The Russian Ministry of Defense expressed confidence in their operation, asserting that all intended targets were successfully hit.
While Ukraine acknowledged that their air defense systems intercepted the majority of projectiles, they also confirmed a tragic toll: at least three people lost their lives, and many others sustained injuries, as stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The strikes impacted multiple regions, including the central city of Dnipro, the Dnipropetrovsk area, along with Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, and even communities in Poltava, Kyiv, Odesa, Sumy, and Kharkiv.
According to Zelenskyy, the offensive was indiscriminate, targeting infrastructure, homes, and civilian industries. “In Dnipro, a missile with cluster munitions hit a residential building directly,” he detailed in a post on X.
He emphasized that such strikes were more about instilling fear and destruction than any military strategy, calling for a robust international reaction. “That’s why a strong international response is needed,” he stressed.
On a related note, Russia’s air defense reportedly managed to thwart and eliminate 149 Ukrainian drones during the same time period.
Moreover, RIA Novosti, a state-controlled news outlet, has conveyed that the fallout from Ukrainian drone strikes reached the Samara region of Russia, resulting in at least four deaths and various injuries, as confirmed by Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev.
These exchanges of military strikes come in the wake of a pivotal month following a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with discussions of a meeting involving Trump and Zelenskyy still lingering without resolution.
Russian strikes have increased in frequency and intensity, marking a concerning escalation. Last week, about twenty Russian drones reportedly entered Polish airspace—the largest infiltration to date of Russian drones into NATO areas. Polish and Dutch fighters intercepted three of those drones.
NATO has initiated Operation Eastern Sentry to strengthen its air defense along its eastern flank. Some alliance members, including Polish Foreign Minister Radoslav Sikorski, propose more aggressive measures, suggesting NATO should target any Russian drones operating above western Ukraine.
Ukrainian leaders continue to advocate for tougher sanctions and trade tariffs against Russia, emphasizing the need for tangible actions against continued aggression. Zelenskyy warned that complacency in response to Russia’s actions could signal to Putin that he has the green light to persist in the conflict, effectively urging the global community to take a stand against the ongoing escalation.
