What's happened
Russia has launched a large overnight assault on Ukraine, firing 73 missiles and 656 attack drones that struck multiple cities including Kyiv, Dnipro and Kharkiv. Ukraine's air force has said it has shot down most incoming weapons but at least several dozen missiles and drones have hit targets, killing and injuring civilians and forcing thousands into metro shelters on Tuesday morning.
What's behind the headline?
What happened
- Russia has launched what Ukraine describes as a mass aerial assault: 73 missiles and 656 attack drones. Ukraine's air force reports it has downed or neutralised most incoming weapons but recorded hits from roughly 30 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and dozens of drones across at least 38 locations.
Human impact and immediate effects
- Cities across Ukraine are burning and rescue services are working at multiple scenes. Authorities have reported multiple deaths: strikes in Dnipro have killed at least four to six people and wounded dozens; Kyiv has reported at least four civilian deaths and dozens injured; Kharkiv region and other cities have reported further casualties and damage. Thousands are sheltering in metro stations and emergency services are fighting fires and searching rubble for survivors.
Military and strategic implications
- Russia is using a mix of long-range missiles and swarms of attack drones, including reported use of Zircon hypersonic missiles. Ukraine is relying on layered air defences and will press allies for additional interceptors; President Zelensky has urged further deliveries and warned of continued strikes if air defences remain insufficient.
What this will cause next
- This will increase demand for long-range air-defence systems and will further strain emergency services and civilian infrastructure. It will raise pressure on Western suppliers to speed missile-defence deliveries and will prolong heavy civilian disruption in Ukrainian cities.
Forecast
- Expect continued waves of missile and drone strikes and repeated sheltering of civilians in cities. Ukrainian air defences will continue intercepting many weapons, but strikes will keep causing civilian casualties and infrastructure damage until supply of interceptors and systemic protection improves.
How we got here
The attacks come during the fourth year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, after months of escalatory strikes on infrastructure and recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian facilities. Kyiv has warned of a possible major assault and been sheltering residents ahead of the attacks.
Our analysis
Several outlets reporting from Ukraine provide a consistent picture of a coordinated overnight assault. Ukraine's Air Force has been quoted across Reuters and The Independent saying Russia launched 73 missiles and 656 drones, and that 40 missiles and 602 drones were shot down or neutralised; Reuters relayed the account of Olha Mudra in Kyiv describing "smoke everywhere" and rescue crews removing bodies from rubble. The Independent and NY Post (Associated Press) give detailed casualty counts in Kyiv and Dnipro, reporting multiple civilian deaths including children and wounded numbering in the dozens; The Independent noted Kyiv's president stressing the urgent need for US Patriot batteries. France 24 and The Guardian highlighted damage in Kharkiv and Dnipro; France 24 quoted Kharkiv governor Oleg Synegubov reporting deaths and damaged residential buildings. The Times of Israel and SBS reported Russia's claim that strikes targeted defence industry and decision-making centres and that Moscow has framed the action as retaliation for alleged Ukrainian attacks in Russian-held areas. Across these sources, eyewitness quotes such as Mudra's "some kind of apocalypse" (Reuters) and Mayor Vitali Klitschko's reports of collapsed buildings (New York Times, France 24) appear repeatedly, giving direct testimony of civilian impact. Follow individual articles for full scene reporting and official statements.
Go deeper
- How will Western governments respond to Ukraine's calls for more air-defence systems?
- Which Ukrainian cities suffered the heaviest infrastructure damage and what recovery plans are in place?
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