LONDON — At least 16 people were killed and about 100 injured in Ukraine after Russia launched a “massive” drone and missile attack Wednesday into Thursday, Ukrainian officials said. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia fired nearly 700 drones, 19 ballistic missiles and additional cruise missiles. Ukraine shot down roughly 636 drones and some missiles, he said, “but not all.”
Fatalities were reported in Odesa, Kyiv and Dnipro, including a 12-year-old boy, Zelenskyy said, offering condolences to the families. Most missiles targeted Kyiv, though damage and deaths occurred across the country. Some weapons that penetrated Ukraine’s defenses struck and damaged residential buildings.
Zelenskyy said the attack shows Russia should not receive any easing of global policy or lifted sanctions, calling for full-force defense of lives and continued pressure for peace.
Russian officials said Ukraine launched its own drone barrage targeting Russian areas, claiming to have downed more than 200 drones. At least one Ukrainian drone reportedly struck a port on Russia’s Black Sea coast, along with other coastal cities, local officials said.