Kyiv, Ukraine: Russia launched one of its largest air attacks on Ukraine overnight, using a combination of missiles and drones. The coordinated assault targeted “peaceful cities, sleeping civilians,” and critical infrastructure, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the attack, stating that Russia launched around 120 missiles and 90 drones in a “massive combined strike on all regions of Ukraine,” with energy infrastructure as the primary target. The attack has led to widespread power outages, with efforts underway to restore electricity.
In Mykolaiv, a southern city among the hardest hit, two women were killed, and six people, including two children, were injured in drone strikes. The city sustained significant damage, with residential buildings, a high-rise, cars, a shopping center, and other infrastructure affected by fires caused by the attacks.
Governor Vitaliy Kim reported that the drones attacked in multiple waves during the early hours of 17th of November.
Meanwhile, Poland scrambled fighter jets as Russian missiles moved toward western Ukraine. Kyiv also reported missile fragments falling in several parts of the capital, though no injuries were reported.
This attack marks the largest coordinated strike on Ukraine since early September and comes as the country braces for a harsh winter. With temperatures dropping and the first snow falling, authorities are concerned about the added pressure on Ukraine’s already vulnerable energy infrastructure.
As the assault continues, Ukrainian air defences reportedly destroyed more than 140 targets, and air raid sirens sounded throughout the country in response to the ongoing barrage.
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