A Night of Fire: Russia Strikes Ukraine with 500 Drones and 40 Missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Russia had launched nearly 500 drones and more than 40 missiles in a massive overnight assault targeting several cities.

According to Zelensky, the attack killed four people, including a 12-year-old girl, injured dozens, and caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure.

On his Telegram channel, Zelensky stressed that “Moscow wants to continue killing and deserves only the strongest international pressure.” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha shared images of burning residential buildings, writing: “Once again, this is a war against civilians.”

Kyiv Under Fire

The capital’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, described the attack as “massive” and urged residents to remain in shelters. He confirmed that six people had been injured in Kyiv, while the head of the military administration, Tymur Tkachchenko, reported four deaths, including that of a young girl.

In the south, the governor of Zaporizhzhia stated that at least four people had been injured in Russian strikes. Meanwhile, presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak declared that Ukraine’s response should not be limited to the battlefield but must also involve “stronger economic sanctions from the West against Russia.”

Poland Takes Action

In response, Polish forces announced they had deployed fighter jets into their airspace and placed air defense systems on high alert. Warsaw emphasized that these were precautionary measures to protect its skies and citizens, particularly near the Ukrainian border.

The move came amid repeated European accusations that Moscow has violated NATO members’ airspace with drones and aircraft, widely seen as a test of the Alliance’s resolve.

Russia Warns, the West Signals Back

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned of a “decisive response” to any attack on Russia, declaring that any country “will deeply regret” shooting down Russian assets in its skies.

His remarks followed calls by U.S. President Donald Trump for NATO to shoot down any Russian aircraft violating its airspace.

Israeli Patriot System in Ukraine

In a significant development, Zelensky announced that Ukraine had acquired a “Patriot” air defense system from Israel, which has been operational for a month. He did not specify whether it had been purchased or provided under a military agreement.

The announcement marks a turning point: since the start of the war in February 2022, Israel had refrained from openly siding against Russia or imposing sanctions. Yet, as Moscow’s alliance with Tehran has deepened and with Western accusations that Iran is supplying drones to the Kremlin, Russian–Israeli relations have sharply deteriorated.

At the same time, Moscow’s repeated criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza has further strained relations between the two countries.