What's happened
Ukraine faces a large-scale Russian assault as missiles and drones hit Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv and Kursk. Officials report casualties and ongoing air alerts; Ukraine urges Europe to bolster defenses while Russia says targets are hit.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- The attack underscores a shift to a wider, coordinated use of long-range, high-precision weapons and drones by Russia.
- Ukraine is calling for enhanced air defense in Europe and continued US support to deter further strikes.
- The narrative highlights a pattern: Russia frames strikes as retaliation, while Ukraine positions defenses as essential for regional stability.
- Expect continued Russian pressure in the near term, with potential spillover effects on civilian infrastructure and regional markets.
What this means for readers: heightened risk of travel disruptions and energy concerns as air alerts persist across multiple cities.
How we got here
The conflict has escalated with Russia launching a large-scale strike across Ukraine, targeting military-industrial complexes and infrastructure. Kyiv and regional capitals have reported casualties and ongoing air alerts. Previous warnings cited Kremlin retaliation for Ukrainian attacks in occupied areas.
Our analysis
The Moscow Times; Al Jazeera; AFP; Reuters reports compiled from Kyiv and regional authorities.
Go deeper
- What countries are increasing air defense commitments in response?
- How many civilians have been displaced by the strikes?
- What steps can residents take to stay safe during air raids?
More on these topics
-
Vitali Klitschko - Mayor of Kiev
Vitali Volodymyrovych Klitschko is a Ukrainian politician and former professional boxer. He currently serves as Mayor of Kyiv and head of the Kyiv City State Administration, having held both offices since June 2014.
-
Vladimir Putin - Russian President
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008.
-
Ukraine - Country in Europe
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
-
Russia - Country
Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
-
Volodymyr Zelenskyy - President of Ukraine
Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy is a Ukrainian politician, actor and comedian who is the 6th and current president of Ukraine, serving since May 2019.
-
Kharkiv - Capital city of Kharkiv Oblast in eastern Ukraine
Kharkiv, also known as Kharkov, is the second-largest city in Ukraine. Located in the northeast of the country, it is the largest city of the historic region of Sloboda Ukraine. Kharkiv is the administrative center of Kharkiv Oblast and Kharkiv Raion...
-
Dnipro - City in Ukraine
Dnipro from 1926 until May 2016, is Ukraine's fourth-largest city, with about one million inhabitants. It is located in the eastern part of Ukraine, 391 kilometres (243 mi) southeast of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on the Dnieper River, after which it is na