Ukraine Reels After Russia Launches Massive Missile and Drone Barrage Across 10 Regions

In one of the most widespread aerial assaults of 2025, Russia launched a massive wave of missiles and drones across nearly the entire territory of Ukraine early Thursday, targeting cities, critical infrastructure, and civilian neighborhoods. The attacks struck 10 regions including Volyn, Lviv, Ternopil, Kyiv, Sumy, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the assault in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), denouncing Russia’s continued targeting of civilians and vowing that “all damage will definitely be restored.”

According to the Ukrainian government, more than 400 drones and at least 40 missiles were used in the overnight attack, many of them of the ballistic category. Air defense systems were able to shoot down a significant portion of the incoming weapons, but “unfortunately, not all were intercepted,” Zelenskyy said.

At least 49 people were wounded, and three were killed—all members of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. “My sincere condolences to their families,” said Zelenskyy. “All necessary services are now on the ground, clearing the rubble and conducting rescue operations.”

The Ukrainian president emphasized the humanitarian cost of continued inaction by Western powers: “Russia doesn’t change its stripes. From the first minute of this war, they have been striking cities and villages to destroy life.”

Kremlin Claims Strike Was Retaliatory

Russia, meanwhile, has defended the assault as a targeted retaliation. According to state media outlet TASS, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the strike was in direct response to alleged “terrorist acts conducted by the Kiev regime.”

“If you read statements from the Russian Defense Ministry carefully, they said that those came ‘in response to the Kiev regime’s terror attacks,’” Peskov told reporters Friday. He also hinted that the attack may have been the response Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned during a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump earlier in the week.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the use of “air-launched, seaborne, and ground-based long-range precision weapons and unmanned combat aerial vehicles,” claiming they struck Ukrainian military targets such as design bureaus, drone assembly plants, flight training centers, and ammunition depots.

“The goal of the strike was achieved,” the Ministry said, without offering visual or independent evidence. The Kremlin insists the targets were military, while Ukraine has emphasized the widespread damage to civilian infrastructure and personnel.

Mounting Global Pressure

This escalation comes amid ongoing debate in Washington and European capitals over how to increase military and economic support for Ukraine. Zelenskyy’s latest appeal may intensify pressure on the Biden administration and NATO partners to move faster with weapons deliveries and sanctions on Moscow.

The international community remains divided on how best to end the war diplomatically or by force. While the Kremlin portrays its actions as counter-terror operations, Ukrainian and Western leaders view the strike as another blatant violation of international law.