Russia launched a large-scale aerial assault on Ukraine overnight Friday, firing more than 660 drones and missiles and killing at least four people while injuring more than 30 others, according to Ukrainian officials cited by France24.
The attack was among the largest single barrages recorded since the conflict began, with strikes causing significant damage across multiple regions of the country.
Dnipro hit hard
The eastern city of Dnipro bore some of the heaviest damage from the overnight assault. Residential and civilian buildings were struck, and by Saturday morning rescue teams were still working through rubble in search of survivors, Ukrainian officials said.
Images and reports from the scene indicated structural collapses had complicated search-and-rescue operations, though the full extent of the damage was still being assessed.
Scale of the attack
The combined use of drones and missiles in a single overnight operation reflects a pattern Russian forces have employed throughout the conflict - using large volumes of cheaper drone munitions alongside more powerful cruise and ballistic missiles to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses.
Ukrainian air defense forces were activated across multiple regions in response to the attack. Officials did not immediately release figures on how many of the incoming projectiles were intercepted.
Ongoing conflict
The strike comes as international diplomatic efforts around the conflict have intensified, with various parties continuing to call for ceasefires or negotiations. On the ground, however, military operations on both sides have continued unabated.
Ukraine's government has repeatedly called on Western allies to provide additional air defense systems and ammunition to help counter Russian aerial attacks, which have targeted energy infrastructure, residential areas, and cities throughout the country.
Russia has not publicly commented on the specifics of the overnight attack. Moscow has consistently characterized its military operations as targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure rather than civilian areas, a characterization Ukrainian officials and Western governments dispute.
The casualty figures and details of the attack were reported by France24, citing Ukrainian officials. The situation in Dnipro remained active as of Saturday morning, with rescue operations ongoing.
