Russia Launches Large Daytime Drone Attack on Ukraine

Russia launched a major daylight drone attack on Ukraine on Wednesday, with nearly 200 unmanned aircraft reported heading south and west from the Belarus border. m. local time as Ukrainian trackers monitored the drones, which officials said were aimed at overwhelming air defenses ahead of expected missile strikes.

Poland scrambled fighter jets and helicopters and placed ground-based air defenses on heightened readiness as a precaution. He stated that Russia was deliberately targeting railway infrastructure and civilian sites. "Unfortunately, people were wounded and killed in these strikes; my condolences to all their families and loved ones," Zelensky said, referring to attacks in 14 regions on Tuesday.

Russian strikes in Dnipropetrovsk killed at least six people on Tuesday, ending hopes that a three-day ceasefire could be extended. m. Tuesday, of which 111 were downed or neutralized. The western Khmelnytskyi region was attacked, with three people wounded.

Two more people were wounded in Odesa, according to local officials. In Kyiv, drone debris fell in an open area of the northern Obolon district. Russia has increased daytime drone attacks in recent weeks, a shift in tactics that disrupts civilian life.

Peskov added that Russia is interested in joint economic projects with the United States if Washington stops linking trade to a Ukraine peace deal. Zelensky cast doubt on Russia's willingness to end the war, stating that Russia has no intention of ending the conflict.

Ukraine resumed drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and ports on Wednesday, two days after the Trump-proposed three-day ceasefire expired. Russia's defense ministry reported intercepting and destroying 286 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions overnight.

Moscow denies intentionally targeting civilians but says strikes on infrastructure are legitimate if they reduce Ukraine's warfighting ability.