Russia Unleashes Massive Two-Day Aerial Assault on Ukraine, Killing at Least 17

Kyiv, Ukraine — Russia carried out one of the largest aerial barrages of the war, subjecting Ukraine to relentless drone and missile attacks over two days that left at least 17 people dead and more than 120 injured.

Warning sirens blared as waves of drones and missiles struck across the country, with attacks continuing from Wednesday into Thursday without significant respite. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia fired more than 1,500 drones at Ukraine within the span of 36 hours.

According to available figures, Wednesday’s assault involved 41 missiles and 652 drones, while Thursday brought nearly 800 additional drones into Ukrainian airspace. Air defence systems intercepted a significant portion of the incoming threats, but strikes still caused widespread damage.

In Kyiv and surrounding regions, residential areas bore the brunt. Eyewitnesses described the terrifying force of the explosions. One resident recounted: “The sound was unbelievable. The sound of something moving at very high speed. It felt like the whole building was shaking. You know, windows and glass flying everywhere. And it felt like the house was collapsing.”

Another survivor said: “All the glass, all the furniture fell. Everything collapsed. Everything was blown apart by the blast wave. The window frames were twisted out. I got up, not even sure if I was alive or not… Then I started running barefoot over the glass.”

Dramatic images from the scenes showed rescue teams digging through shattered concrete and rubble of collapsed apartment buildings, with smoke rising from damaged residential blocks and debris-strewn streets. Emergency workers in Ukraine’s Kyiv region removed an unexploded missile warhead lodged inside a residential building.

One local described hearing an object flying nearby before a massive impact: “I saw the hit with my own eyes and then I looked. There is a gap between these two buildings which wasn’t there before… such a tragedy has happened.”

The assaults damaged over 50 residential buildings nationwide. The escalation follows a brief ceasefire and comes as Ukraine has intensified its own long-range drone operations targeting military and strategic sites deep inside Russian territory. Both sides are increasingly conducting strikes far beyond the front lines.

The latest attacks have heightened pressure on Western allies to provide stronger military support, particularly additional air defence systems for Ukraine.