Russia Launches Massive Drone Barrage Across Ukraine

Russia launched one of its largest drone assaults on Ukraine overnight, firing at least 800 drones across 20 regions as fighting intensified and Moscow renewed demands for territorial concessions as a condition for peace talks.

Ukrainian authorities said the barrage targeted multiple cities and key infrastructure sites, prompting widespread air raid alerts and emergency response operations. Ukrainian officials claimed Russia used Shahed drone swarm tactics designed to overwhelm the country’s air defense systems.

Heavy attacks were reported in Kyiv, while the cities of Rivne and Odesa also came under fire. Images released by officials showed firefighters battling multiple building fires and carrying out rescue operations in Odesa following the strikes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at least six people were killed in the attacks, while dozens more — including children — were injured. Ukrainian authorities also warned residents about the possibility of additional cruise and ballistic missile strikes following the drone assault.

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, HUR, said the drones primarily targeted critical infrastructure and essential support facilities in major cities, including energy infrastructure, defense industry enterprises, and government buildings.

Officials in Kyiv further accused Moscow of escalating military pressure after rejecting multiple ceasefire proposals.

A defense ministry adviser said Russian forces launched Shahed drones in formations near the Belarus border, with some drones reportedly flying at distances of five to 10 kilometers from one another. The adviser said the tactic appeared aimed at saturating Ukrainian air defenses and increasing the number of targets struck deep inside the country.

Amid the attacks, the Kremlin reiterated that Ukraine must withdraw forces from Donbas and other territories claimed by Russia, arguing such a move would create conditions for meaningful peace negotiations.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the conflict could end “at any moment” if Kyiv accepted Moscow’s demands.

The Kremlin also announced that the governors of Belgorod and Bryansk regions had resigned at their own request. Alexander Khinshtein was named acting governor of the Belgorod region, while Igor Kobzev was appointed acting governor of Bryansk, according to Russian officials.

The Kremlin added that Russian President Vladimir Putin had met with both acting governors. Belgorod and Bryansk border Ukraine and have frequently been targeted by cross-border attacks during the war.