KYIV — Russia intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities this week, extending a series of large-scale strikes that Ukrainian authorities say have killed civilians, damaged residential areas and critical infrastructure, and increased pressure on the country's air defenses.
Ukrainian officials said the latest attacks targeted Kyiv and several other regions after repeated overnight barrages in recent days. Local authorities reported casualties and damage to apartment buildings, energy facilities and other civilian infrastructure, while emergency crews continued rescue and recovery operations. Ukrainian officials said casualty figures remained subject to revision as searches continued.
Russia's Defense Ministry has said its forces are carrying out strikes against military-industrial facilities, energy sites supporting Ukraine's defense sector and other military infrastructure. Moscow has rejected accusations that it deliberately targets civilians, while Ukraine says residential neighborhoods and other non-military sites have repeatedly been hit. Independent verification of individual battlefield claims remains difficult because of the conflict.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has renewed calls for additional Western air-defense systems and interceptor missiles, saying sustained Russian missile and drone attacks demonstrate the need to strengthen Ukraine's ability to protect cities and critical infrastructure. Ukrainian officials have also highlighted efforts with international partners to expand domestic production of air-defense equipment.
The latest wave of attacks comes as analysts and Ukrainian officials report Russia is increasingly employing new tactics, including fiber-optic first-person-view drones that are resistant to electronic jamming. According to the Centre for Information Resilience, cited by Reuters, such drones have successfully struck electricity substations in Ukraine's Sumy region, posing additional challenges for Ukrainian defenses and threatening power infrastructure near the front line.
The exchanges have continued alongside Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on targets inside Russia, including energy infrastructure that Kyiv says supports Moscow's military operations. Russian authorities have reported damage at refineries and other facilities from Ukrainian attacks, while the International Energy Agency said disruptions linked to the strikes contributed to lower forecasts for Russian oil output in 2026 and 2027.
The conflict, now in its fifth year, has been marked by recurring large-scale aerial attacks by both sides. The United Nations has previously warned that civilian casualties have risen amid intensified strikes, while international partners continue to discuss additional military assistance and air-defense support for Ukraine. As of Friday, Ukrainian authorities said emergency services remained at damaged sites, while no official indication had emerged that either side intended to reduce the pace of long-range attacks.
