Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a massive Russian aerial assault that lasted more than 12 hours, calling it a “vile” attack against civilians. The strikes, among the heaviest overnight bombardments in recent months, killed at least four people in Kyiv, including a 12-year-old girl, and injured more than 40 others.
According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia launched nearly 600 drones and several dozen missiles targeting seven regions across the country. The barrage caused widespread damage to civilian infrastructure, including a bread factory, an automobile rubber factory, apartment buildings, and the Institute of Cardiology in Kyiv.
Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, and Odesa regions were also hit. In Zaporizhzhia, 16 people were injured, including three children. Officials reported that two boys, aged 11 and 12, suffered severe injuries—one from an explosion and the other from carbon monoxide poisoning—while a nine-year-old girl was also hurt.
Zelensky warned that Ukraine “will strike back” in a bid to “force diplomacy” from Moscow. He urged Europe and the United States to deliver a strong response, highlighting that the attack coincided with the conclusion of the UN General Assembly.
“This is how Russia declares its real position,” Zelensky said, adding that the strikes showed Moscow’s determination to prolong the war.
The president voiced support for US President Donald Trump’s recent call for harsher sanctions on Russia and urged European allies to reduce their reliance on Russian oil and gas. Trump has shifted his stance in recent weeks, suggesting Ukraine could regain lost territory as Russia struggles under the weight of prolonged conflict.
Meanwhile, Russia’s strikes on western Ukraine triggered the scrambling of jets in neighbouring Poland. Similar incursions in Denmark, Estonia, and Romania have also raised concerns across NATO. While Moscow denies targeting EU or NATO states, alliance members have reinforced their eastern defences in response to repeated violations.
As the war enters its third year, Zelensky has warned that Russia’s aggression will not end with Ukraine, framing the attacks as a broader test of European security.
