Russia’s Drone and Missile Barrage Devastates Kyiv and Southern Ukraine
S Arefin 
Russian drone and missile attack kills eight in Ukraine
Russia has launched one of its heaviest recent aerial attacks on Ukraine, firing hundreds of drones and missiles overnight. Ukrainian officials say eight people were killed and dozens wounded as strikes hit Kyiv and the southern city of Chornomorsk.
Six people died in Kyiv, where explosions and falling debris damaged homes, public buildings and key energy facilities across nine districts. Two more people were killed in Chornomorsk, a Black Sea port city near Odesa, after drones struck a marketplace.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces used 430 drones and 18 missiles in the overnight barrage. He described the assault as the biggest attack on the capital in almost three weeks.
Kyiv residents describe ‘wicked’ overnight strikes
In Kyiv, residents were jolted awake by repeated blasts as air-raid sirens sounded through the night. Many sought shelter in metro stations and underground carparks while air defences tried to intercept the incoming weapons.
Zelenskyy called the attack “wicked” and “calculated”, saying Russia had deliberately targeted civilian areas to spread fear. City officials reported fires, shattered windows and structural damage at high-rise apartment blocks, a school, a medical facility and administrative buildings.
However, Ukrainian air force commanders said most of the drones and missiles were shot down before reaching their intended targets. Even so, debris and secondary fires caused significant destruction on the ground.
Civilian toll includes children and pregnant woman
The human cost of the attack is still being counted. Officials say at least 29 people were injured in Kyiv alone, including children and a pregnant woman.
Witnesses spoke of harrowing escapes and “near misses” in the dark. One resident told local media that people were screaming and running through smoke-filled stairwells after a nearby apartment block was hit.
Meanwhile, debris from an Iskander missile struck the Azerbaijani embassy compound in Kyiv, damaging the building but causing no deaths. Azerbaijan’s government condemned the strike and demanded accountability for attacks on diplomatic premises.
Ukraine responds with its own drone and missile barrage
In response, Ukraine launched its own domestically produced drones and missiles at targets inside Russia. Zelenskyy said the counter-strike focused on military and energy infrastructure on Russian territory.
Ukrainian officials did not disclose full details, but previous operations have targeted oil refineries, ports and air bases used to support Moscow’s campaign. As a result, Russia has faced temporary disruptions to fuel exports and increased pressure on its logistics.
Moscow claimed its own attacks were aimed solely at “military-industrial and energy facilities”. Ukrainian authorities rejected that explanation, pointing to repeated strikes on homes, markets and embassies as evidence of deliberate or reckless targeting of civilians.
Winter energy fears and international reaction
The assault also raised concerns about Ukraine’s energy security as winter approaches. Strikes damaged power infrastructure in Kyiv and other regions, triggering partial outages and forcing emergency crews to work through the night to restore supplies.
Zelenskyy urged allies to speed up deliveries of air-defence systems and impose tougher sanctions on Russia’s oil and gas revenues. He argued that limiting Moscow’s energy income is essential to reduce its ability to finance large-scale attacks.
Meanwhile, European leaders condemned the bombardment and vowed to maintain support for Ukraine. They warned that sustained strikes on cities and energy networks are designed to break morale but will instead deepen Russia’s isolation.
Growing pressure for stronger air defences
The latest attack underlines how vulnerable Ukrainian cities remain despite improved air defences. Patriot and other Western-supplied systems have increased interception rates, yet the sheer volume of drones and missiles means some inevitably get through.
Kyiv residents, already hardened by years of war, are bracing for further barrages as temperatures fall and demand for heating rises. Officials fear Russia will keep targeting energy facilities to pressure Ukraine during the coldest months.
For now, emergency workers continue to clear debris, restore power and support families who lost loved ones in the latest “night of terror”. As the conflict grinds on, each major strike deepens the humanitarian toll and reinforces calls for a stronger international response.
Image: Reuters
About The Author
Sultanul Arefin 
Suzan Seherin 
