Russian Overnight Strikes Kill 16, Injure Over 80 in Multiple Ukrainian Cities

Russian strikes overnight killed at least 16 people and injured more than 80 others across Ukraine, according to officials. The attacks involved nearly 700 drones and dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles, primarily targeting civilian areas. In Odesa, six people were confirmed dead, while strikes on Kyiv resulted in at least four fatalities, including a 12-year-old child.

Two additional deaths were reported in Dnipro, and one person was killed in Zaporizhzhia. The strikes also caused significant damage, impacting residential buildings, a hotel, and a shopping mall in Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the attacks demonstrate that Russia does not deserve any easing of global policy or lifting of sanctions.

He thanked Germany, Norway, and Italy for their support in enhancing Ukraine's air defense capabilities during his recent trip to these countries. Ukraine's air force reported that it shot down or disabled 667 out of 703 incoming targets, including 636 drones. Despite these efforts, the scale of the attack left nearly 800,000 homes without power and heat in the Dnipro region.

The United Nations has reported that more than 15,000 Ukrainian civilians have died in Russian strikes since the invasion began over four years ago.