Russia’s Massive Air Assault Tests Ukraine’s Strained Defences

Russia launched a sweeping overnight missile and drone assault across Ukraine on Thursday, striking cities from the capital Kyiv to key Black Sea and industrial regions in an attack that underscored the mounting pressure on Ukraine’s air-defence network and the increasingly two-sided nature of the long-range war.

The barrage began after nightfall on Wednesday and continued into daylight hours, with explosions heard across Kyiv during the morning. Russia’s Defence Ministry described it as a “massive” strike targeting military-related facilities in nine Ukrainian cities, including industrial sites, oil refineries, logistics hubs and port infrastructure.

Ukrainian authorities, however, reported damage to civilian areas, including homes, schools and medical facilities. A 78-year-old woman was killed in Zaporizhzhia, while another person died in the Kharkiv region. At least 14 people were injured elsewhere. Four districts of Kyiv were hit, though no casualties were reported in the capital.

The attack has renewed concern over Ukraine’s shortage of US-made Patriot interceptor missiles, considered crucial for countering Russian ballistic missiles. Ukrainian officials say Moscow has been building up missile stocks and launching major attacks every few days to overwhelm air defences through sheer numbers.

Ukraine’s air force said it shot down or suppressed seven Russian ballistic missiles, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for stronger air-defence support and additional ballistic missile-defence packages through European purchases of US weapons.

The Poltava region reported strikes on industrial and energy facilities. In Odesa, an attack lasting more than seven hours damaged a 16-storey residential building, two educational institutions and a grain elevator. The disruption also delayed some train services by more than 17 hours, highlighting the risks to Ukraine’s transport and export infrastructure.

Ukraine has responded with an expanding long-range drone campaign inside Russia. Its General Staff said aircraft-launched missiles struck Russia’s main and backup command posts near Donetsk, where Ukrainian forces are under pressure.

Russia said it shot down 267 Ukrainian drones over 14 regions, Crimea, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. Ukrainian attacks have increasingly targeted refineries, logistics hubs and commercial infrastructure, including facilities linked to Wildberries and Ozon, Russia’s two largest online retailers.

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy was due to visit neighbouring Moldova for its national day. Moldova said five drones breached its airspace overnight, adding to regional concern over the conflict spilling beyond Ukraine.

The latest attack reflects an intensifying war of aerial and economic attrition, with Russia seeking to exhaust Ukraine’s defences while Kyiv attempts to impose growing military, logistical and economic costs inside Russia.