On Saturday night to early Sunday morning, Russia launched a new round of large-scale airstrikes against Ukraine, deploying nearly 600 drones and dozens of cruise missiles targeting multiple cities in western and northeastern Ukraine. The attacks resulted in at least 6 deaths and dozens of injuries. This marks the fourth major airstrike by the Russian military this month and is part of an escalation of operations since June.
The Russian military focused their airstrikes on cities in western Ukraine, including Chernivtsi, Lviv, and Lutsk, which are not only close to the borders of Poland and Romania but also serve as key hubs for Western military aid supplies.
The Governor of Chernivtsi Oblast, Ruslan Zaparaniuk, reported that Russian forces used four drones and a missile to attack the region, resulting in the deaths of a 26-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man, with 14 others injured. Both fatalities were due to injuries caused by debris from the crashed drones.
In Lviv, drone attacks injured 12 people and caused damage to 46 residential buildings, a university, the city courthouse, and around 20 small and medium-sized business structures. Resident Oleh Sidorov, 64, told Reuters, “Windows and doors were blown off, the TV was overturned, and the whole room was littered with glass shards.”
Cities in the northeast and central regions such as Luhansk, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk were also not spared. Kharkiv was targeted with 8 drones and 2 missiles, resulting in 3 injuries. Reports from Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy oblasts indicated that two people lost their lives in Russian missile and glide bomb attacks.
According to Ukrainian Air Force statistics, the Russian military launched a total of 597 drones and decoys, along with 26 cruise missiles. Of these, 319 Iranian-made Shahed drones and 25 missiles were successfully shot down, while 258 drones lost control due to electronic interference. However, a significant number of targets penetrated the defense line, causing substantial casualties and infrastructure damage.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to Telegram to urge Western allies to take action by implementing stricter sanctions and expediting the provision of air defense systems. He stated, “Only through strength can we end this war. We not only expect verbal support but also practical actions to save lives.”
Since June, the Russian military has noticeably intensified its aerial offensives. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission, June of this year became the deadliest month for civilian casualties in the past three years, with 232 fatalities and 1,343 injuries reported.
The attacks have also put neighboring Poland on high alert. The Polish Air Force dispatched fighter jets to monitor the border airspace, particularly as western cities like Lviv and Lutsk serve as crucial hubs for Ukrainian receipt of Western military aid.
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that they had shot down 33 Ukrainian drones that night. Incidents of Ukrainian drone attacks were also reported in the regions of Belgorod and Kursk in Russia, resulting in one injury.
Both Russia and Ukraine have recently intensified their drone and missile offensives, reflecting the high-pressure situation both on the front lines and in the rear cities. On the front lines, Russian forces are attempting to break through a 1,000-kilometer-long battle line, while Ukrainian forces are struggling to resist under pressure from Western military aid and resources.
(This article references relevant reports from the Associated Press (AP) and Reuters.)