Vladimir Putin’s forces carried out their largest drone attack yet on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, resulting in at least three deaths and 21 injuries.
Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that the overnight assault involved 48 kamikaze drones, guided bombs, and missiles, marking the most intense strike on the city since the war began 39 months ago. More than 50 explosions damaged 18 apartment buildings and 13 private homes.
Dramatic footage from Kyiv showed a drone strike setting a high-rise building on fire.
Among the wounded were a six-week-old infant and a 14-year-old girl.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the widespread overnight drone and missile attacks across several regions as devastating and called for increased international pressure on Moscow. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 174 of the 206 drones used in the attacks. These strikes are seen as Russian retaliation for Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, a covert drone mission that destroyed dozens of Russian planes at four airbases deep inside Russia.
In response, Russia has ramped up its assault, launching over 400 drones and 45 missiles in 48 hours, causing at least six deaths and 80 injuries across the country. The Russian defense ministry labeled its strikes a “massive” retaliation to what it termed Ukrainian terrorist acts. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the conflict as an “existential issue” for Russia. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump praised Ukraine’s strategic strike but cautioned it could lead to stronger Russian retaliation. Despite ongoing peace talks, Russia’s sweeping demands remain unacceptable to Kyiv, which continues to carry out new drone strikes on Russian military targets.
