Russia in Mass Strike on Ukraine, Civilian Deaths Reported Despite Moscow’s Military Target Claims

Russia has confirmed it carried out a large-scale overnight assault on Ukraine, striking with waves of drones and missiles in what it described as a retaliation against “terrorist acts” by Kyiv.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the attack targeted military-industrial facilities, weapons depots, training centres, and drone assembly workshops. Officials in Moscow insist that only military infrastructure was in their crosshairs.

Ukraine, however, painted a far more devastating picture. Authorities in Kyiv reported that hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles were fired in what has become one of the heaviest coordinated strikes in recent months.

The Ukrainian Air Force said its defense systems intercepted the majority of the projectiles, but some still got through, killing at least four people—including a 12-year-old girl—and injuring dozens more.

Damage was reported to residential buildings, factories, and even a cardiology clinic, underscoring the civilian cost of the bombardment.

The scale of the offensive forced neighboring Poland to briefly close its airspace and scramble fighter jets as a precaution.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as “vile” and renewed calls for Western allies to strengthen Kyiv’s air defenses.

The strikes also triggered fresh international concern, with growing pressure on Western governments to accelerate military aid to Ukraine and tighten sanctions on Moscow.

While Russia insists that “all designated military targets” were successfully destroyed, independent verification of its claims remains unclear.

The contrasting narratives highlight the continuing fog of war: Moscow presenting the strikes as precise retaliation, while Kyiv reports mounting civilian suffering.

The latest escalation comes at a sensitive moment in the ongoing war, deepening fears of a protracted conflict with widening humanitarian and regional consequences.