Russia Launches ‘Massive Attack’ Across Ukraine

A barrage of Russian air strikes were reported across Ukraine on Friday, with targets including a shopping mall, a school, and residential buildings, according to local media reports.

The Ukrainian air force said Russia used a combination of cruise missiles and drones in the overnight assault. Explosions were reported in the capital Kyiv, in Lviv and Odesa in the west, as well as in Dnipro and Kharkiv in the east. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia struck Ukraine overnight with around 110 missiles.

“Russia again massively attacked Ukraine just as people were sleeping or going to work. This time [Russia] used almost everything it stockpiled: missiles, drones, deploying around 18 strategic bombers,” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The Kremlin has yet to comment on the attack. Newsweek has contacted the foreign ministries of Russia and Ukraine for comment via email.

Russian forces have also frequently used Shahed drones, also known as kamikaze or suicide drones, throughout the war that was launched by President Vladimir Putin in February 2022.

“A massive attack by terrorists, rockets are flying over our cities again, an attack on civilians,” Zelensky’s office said, Ukraine’s 24 Kanal reported.

Multiple people were killed across the country on Friday and scores more have been injured, according to local media outlets.

Serhiy Popko, the head of the capital’s military administration, said Kyiv was attacked by dozens of missiles of various types. He said they approached the city in waves and from multiple directions, causing destruction and casualties.

Fires have been reported across the city, likely from falling debris.

A video circulating on social media purports to show the moment when parts of a Russian rocket struck an apartment building in Kyiv. Another clip appears to show a shopping mall on fire.

This is a developing story and it will be updated when further information becomes available.