Russia has initiated its most extensive air assault on Ukraine since the onset of its full-scale invasion, as reported by the Ukrainian military to CNN. The attack involved an unprecedented deployment of drones and missiles across the country, resulting in at least 31 fatalities and over 150 injuries.
The onslaught began overnight and extended into Friday, reaching multiple locations nationwide, including the capital Kyiv, a maternity hospital in Dnipro, the cities of Kharkiv, Odesa, and Lviv. Notably, the strikes extended to areas far from the immediate frontlines.
The assault persisted into Friday afternoon, with Ukraine’s air force reporting missile barrages targeting the northern Cherkasy region and hitting the city of Smilla. Additional missiles were detected originating from Russia’s Kursk region and heading toward the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy.
Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for Ukraine’s air force, remarked on the unprecedented nature of the attack, stating, “It’s been a long time since we have seen so many enemy targets on our monitors in all regions and all directions. Everything was being fired.”
The international community, including several Western nations and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, condemned the large-scale assault. Guterres emphasized that such attacks against civilians and infrastructure violate international humanitarian law and must cease immediately.
Ukraine’s air force disclosed that Russia utilized 158 drones and missiles, including hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, cruise missiles, and Shahed drones, to target locations in Kyiv and various regions across the east, south, and west of Ukraine. Russia has initiated
Today the enemy has struck a powerful blow. There are downed targets, however unfortunately there are also casualties,” Ihnat added.
The Polish military reported an “unidentified airborne object” entered Polish airspace from Ukrainian territory early Friday morning.
Chief of the General Staff, General Wiesław Kukuła, said everything indicated that a Russian missile had entered and then left Polish airspace, official Polish news agency PAP reported.
Polish deputy foreign minister Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski has summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Russian Federation, Andrei Ordash, on Friday and handed him a note requesting an explanation, the Polish foreign ministry said in a statement.