Russia has carried out its most extensive aerial attack on Ukraine within a single 24-hour period since the start of the war, launching a total of 948 drones and targeting cities across the country.
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that 556 drones were deployed after 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT) on Tuesday in an unusual daytime offensive. The strikes killed at least three people and left dozens injured, marking one of the most intense phases of the conflict in recent months.
Historic Landmarks and Civilian Areas Damaged
In the western city of Lviv, a 16th-century Bernardine monastery, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, was damaged during the attack. Nearby, a residential building caught fire after being struck by a drone, with visuals showing flames engulfing the roof.
In the Ivano-Frankivsk region, a maternity hospital was among the sites hit, highlighting the continued impact on civilian infrastructure. Several buildings in the regional capital sustained damage.
Rising Casualties Across Regions
Officials reported injuries and fatalities across multiple areas. In Lviv, 32 people were wounded, according to regional head Maksym Kozytskyi.
Ivano-Frankivsk saw two deaths and four injuries, including a six-year-old child. In central Ukraine, the city of Vinnytsia reported one fatality and 13 injuries.
Ternopil was also targeted, with authorities confirming direct hits, though no casualties were recorded there.
Overnight Strikes Add to the Toll
The daytime assault followed a wave of overnight attacks that killed five people. Ukrainian officials said Russia launched 392 drones and 34 missiles during that earlier barrage, targeting 11 regions.
While Ukraine’s air defences intercepted many of the incoming threats, officials acknowledged that several strikes hit their targets.
Zelensky: Attacks Show No Sign of Peace
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the scale of the attacks reflects Russia’s ongoing stance in the war.
“The latest strikes clearly show that Russia has no intention of ending this war,” he said in his evening address. Russia’s military has not issued any official response.
Wider Reach and Coordinated Strategy
Ukraine’s Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat described the attack as highly coordinated, with drones entering from north in organized formations.
He noted that the geographical spread of the daytime strikes was broader than usual, calling it one of the largest single-day assaults since the invasion began.
War Grinds On Amid Stalled Talks
Although western Ukraine has historically faced fewer attacks than regions near the front lines, Tuesday’s strikes indicate a widening scope of operations.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, and the war continues with near-daily attacks on Ukrainian cities. Efforts to broker peace have stalled, with no clear progress in recent negotiations.
Same day, Russia’s Kursk region reported a Ukrainian drone strike on an agricultural site, killing one and injuring 13.
Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska urged the world not to lose focus on the human cost of the conflict, warning against allowing the suffering to fade into routine headlines.
