In a night marred by relentless assault, Russia unleashed a record number of drones and ballistic missiles against Ukraine, claiming 13 lives and plunging the country into fresh chaos. The barrage, part of an ongoing escalation, coincided with a landmark prisoner exchange that saw both nations release their largest number of detainees since the war’s brutal inception.
As Ukrainian emergency services described a night of “terror,” Kyiv and other cities braced for the fallout of the latest Russian onslaught. The strikes, which targeted the capital and other regions, marked yet another chapter in the brutal cycle of violence that has persisted since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The deadliest toll was felt in Zhytomyr, where two children aged just eight and 12, along with a 17-year-old, lost their lives in a strike that devastated a local school. Their names Roman, Tamara, and Stanislav were shared in heartfelt posts, their memory etched into the collective grief of a nation fighting to survive. “Their memory will always be with us. We will never forgive,” the school’s Facebook page mourned.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed outrage and frustration, condemning the continued violence and calling for stronger international pressure on Moscow. “Without truly strong pressure on the Russian leadership, this brutality cannot be stopped,” Zelensky stated on social media. “The silence of America, the silence of others around the world only encourages Putin. Sanctions will certainly help.”
European leaders echoed his sentiments. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, urged “the strongest international pressure” to halt the bloodshed, condemning Russia’s “bent on more suffering and the annihilation of Ukraine.” “Devastating to see children among innocent victims harmed and killed,” she added.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul signaled a firm stance, warning that Vladimir Putin’s refusal to seek peace must be met with further sanctions. “Putin does not want peace, he wants to carry on the war, and we shouldn’t allow him to do this,” he declared, emphasizing unity across Europe in response to the crisis.
The attacks followed a devastating overnight campaign in which Russia launched 14 ballistic missiles and an unprecedented 266 attack drones, wounding 15 civilians, including children. Ukrainian forces responded with remarkable resilience, shooting down 45 missiles and 266 drones, according to military officials. Yuriy Ignat, Ukraine’s air force spokesman, revealed that a staggering 298 drones were launched an all-time high.
Casualties continued to mount across Ukraine’s regions, with four deaths reported in Khmelnytskyi and Kyiv, and two in Mykolaiv. The southern region’s governor, Vitaliy Kim, confirmed that a second body had been recovered from the rubble of an attack, underscoring the ongoing devastation.
In Kyiv’s outskirts, residents bore witness to the chaos. “We saw the whole street was on fire,” recounted Tetiana Iankovska, a 65-year-old retiree from Markhalivka, describing the night’s nightmare as flames engulfed her neighborhood.
As Ukraine endures yet another night of violence, the world watches with a mixture of outrage and concern, grappling with the stark reality that this conflict shows no signs of abating.
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