Russia Launches New Drone and Missile Assault on Ukraine

In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russian forces have conducted a nighttime assault on Ukraine, deploying 131 drones and two Iskander-M missiles, as reported by the Ukrainian Air Force. According to military sources, 57 of the drones were intercepted and destroyed, while 45 failed to reach their intended targets, likely due to electronic countermeasures employed by Ukrainian defense systems. The fate of the remaining 29 drones remains unclear.

The city of Kharkiv, located in northeastern Ukraine, was notably impacted by these strikes, with local authorities confirming that two individuals sustained injuries during the attacks. The bombardments persisted throughout the night, igniting fires in both a kindergarten and residential buildings. This recent wave of aggression follows a separate assault on Kharkiv on the previous day, which resulted in two fatalities and 35 injuries, according to Ukrainian officials.

In response to these developments, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed to have downed 66 Ukrainian drones, with the majority intercepted over the Bryansk and Kaluga regions, as well as one over Kursk. Local governors from Bryansk and Kaluga reported minimal damage from the attacks, asserting that their regions were largely unaffected by the ongoing conflict.

This latest offensive underscores the continuing volatility in the region, as both sides remain entrenched in a protracted conflict that has seen numerous casualties and widespread destruction. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with calls for diplomatic resolutions growing amidst the ongoing violence.