Russia unleashed one of the largest aerial assaults of the war on Ukraine early Sunday, firing more than 600 drones and missiles at multiple targets.
Ukrainian officials confirmed at least four deaths, including a 12-year-old girl, in Kyiv and dozens of injuries across the country.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said the overnight attack underscored Russia’s “real position” just as the UN General Assembly week concluded.
The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched 595 drones and 48 missiles, including powerful cruise and ballistic missiles. Air defenses managed to shoot down or suppress 43 cruise missiles and the majority of drones.
Despite these defenses, Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia bore the brunt of the strikes. Local authorities said 42 people were injured in Kyiv and its surrounding region, while 31 were wounded in Zaporizhzhia.
Photos showed smoke hanging over Kyiv on Sunday morning as residents tried to go about daily life amid the chaos.
Damage and civilian casualties
Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, described the barrage as a “war against civilians.”
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A five-story residential building in Kyiv was partially damaged by falling debris.
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The Cardiology Institute in the capital was hit, with two deaths reported at the site.
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Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed multiple strikes that left homes and infrastructure in ruins.
Among the four victims in Kyiv was a 12-year-old girl, according to city officials.
Poland and regional tensions
Poland scrambled fighter jets into its airspace during the assault, with the military saying it was a preventive measure to protect citizens in border regions. The move followed recent Russian drone incursions over Polish territory.
“This is about securing the airspace and protecting people, especially in areas adjacent to the threatened regions,” Poland’s army said in a statement.
The attacks come amid rising concern in Europe after a spate of suspected Russian airspace violations involving Poland and Estonia, prompting NATO discussions on how to respond more forcefully.
Global reactions
Speaking at the UN General Assembly just hours before the assault, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed Western accusations that Moscow was preparing attacks on NATO and EU states. He warned, however, that any aggression against Russia would be met with a “decisive response.”
Ukraine, meanwhile, has bolstered its air defenses with the arrival of a Patriot missile system from Israel and expects two more from Germany this year. Zelensky emphasized the importance of these systems in shielding Ukrainian cities from continued aerial strikes.
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