Russian forces launched overnight drone and missile strikes on Ukraine, killing at least three people including a child, Ukrainian officials said Thursday, according to France 24.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that a 12-year-old boy and a 35-year-old woman were among those killed in the attacks. Air alerts were triggered across Kyiv as the strikes hit the country.
The latest bombardment comes after months of near-daily attacks on Ukrainian territory. The frequency and scale of Russian strikes have placed sustained pressure on Ukrainian air defenses and civilian infrastructure.
Escalating aerial campaign
Russia has maintained a persistent aerial campaign against Ukraine, combining drone and missile attacks to stretch air defense resources. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned that the volume of incoming projectiles makes full interception difficult.
The use of drones alongside ballistic and cruise missiles has become a defining feature of Russia's strategy, with waves of cheaper drone attacks often preceding or accompanying more costly missile salvos.
Civilian casualties have mounted steadily as strikes continue to hit residential areas, energy infrastructure, and urban centers across the country.
Ongoing conflict context
The strikes come amid broader fighting along the front lines in eastern and southern Ukraine, where Russian forces have maintained pressure in several sectors. Diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire have so far failed to produce a lasting halt to hostilities.
International partners have continued supplying Ukraine with air defense systems and ammunition, though Ukrainian officials have consistently called for faster and larger deliveries to counter the scale of Russian aerial attacks.
The deaths of civilians, particularly children, have drawn condemnation from Western governments and international organizations, who have called on Russia to cease strikes on populated areas.
