Russia has launched one of its biggest aerial offensives of the war after firing 1,567 drones against Ukraine within just two days, according to Ukrainian officials, in attacks that killed civilians, damaged infrastructure, and deepened fears that hopes for a ceasefire are collapsing.
Ukraine’s emergency services said at least 21 people were killed in the capital Kyiv following a massive overnight assault involving missiles and drones.
Dozens of others were reportedly injured as explosions shook several districts of the city.
Officials said rescue teams continued searching damaged buildings hours after the strikes because of the scale of destruction caused by the bombardment.
Residential buildings, energy infrastructure, and transport facilities were among the sites reportedly hit during the attacks.
Ukraine’s air force described the latest strikes as one of the largest coordinated drone offensives since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The attacks came at a time when international mediators had been pushing for renewed discussions around a possible ceasefire, though recent weeks have seen both sides intensify military operations instead.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of deliberately targeting civilians and attempting to terrorize major cities through sustained aerial warfare.
“This is not the behavior of a country seeking peace,” Zelenskyy said during an address following the attacks.
Russia has increasingly relied on long-range drones alongside missile strikes to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense systems.
Military analysts say the use of hundreds of drones at once is designed to exhaust Ukrainian interception capabilities while increasing the chances of direct hits on critical infrastructure.
The latest barrage also highlighted the growing scale of drone warfare in the conflict, with both Russia and Ukraine investing heavily in unmanned aerial technology.
Kyiv authorities warned residents to expect further attacks as emergency crews worked through damaged neighborhoods.
Images circulating on social media showed burning apartment buildings, shattered windows, and rescue workers carrying survivors through debris-filled streets.
The strikes also triggered renewed international condemnation.
Several European officials accused Russia of escalating the conflict instead of moving toward diplomacy.
The attacks come as Ukraine continues urging Western allies for additional air defense systems and military support amid concerns that Russia is preparing for a prolonged phase of intensified bombardment before winter.
Moscow has not publicly released full details about the operation but has repeatedly claimed its attacks target military and strategic infrastructure linked to Ukraine’s war effort.
The war, now entering another devastating phase, has already displaced millions of Ukrainians and destroyed large parts of the infrastructure across the country.
