Ukraine revealed that Russia has launched the fiercest air assault since the war began, deploying over 948 drones in a single day across multiple regions, including the western areas that are rarely attacked. This resulted in numerous deaths and injuries, as well as damage to historic sites and infrastructure.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that in the past 24 hours, Russia carried out its largest air assault, in two waves. During the night, 392 drones and 34 missiles were launched, causing five deaths across 11 regions. In the unusual morning attack on Tuesday, 556 drones were sent in, with a spokesperson explaining these drones flew in formation from the north and dispersed to attack a wider area than during the night.
Severe damage occurred in western Ukraine, an area usually safer than border regions. In Lviv, the 16th-century Bernardine Monastery, part of UNESCO's World Heritage, was damaged. Nearby residential buildings caught fire, resulting in 32 injuries in the region.
In Ivano-Frankivsk, two people were reported dead and four injured, including a six-year-old child. Several buildings, including the "Maternity Hospital," were damaged in the attacks. In Vinnytsia, one death and 13 injuries resulted from drone strikes.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in a video message, "The scale of this latest attack clearly shows that Russia has no real intention of ending this war." Meanwhile, First Lady Olena Zelenska posted on social media urging the world not to let Ukraine's losses become mere statistics or overlooked headlines.
This escalation in attacks comes as U.S.-led peace talks have stalled since the late February conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Russia has not yet issued an official response regarding these attacks.
However, Russian sources reported that on Tuesday, Ukraine launched drone attacks on agricultural enterprises in the Kursk region, killing one Russian man and injuring 13 others.
. . .BBC