Russia Launches Massive Overnight Missile and Drone Attack on Ukrainian Cities

Russia launched a massive, coordinated wave of missiles and drones across Ukraine overnight Wednesday into Thursday, targeting critical infrastructure in at least nine cities in an attack that extended into daylight hours and prompted air raid alerts across much of the country. The Ukrainian military reported intercepting seven ballistic missiles and 258 drones during the lengthy assault, which struck ports, grain storage, energy facilities, and industrial sites. Explosions echoed through Kyiv in the early hours of Thursday, with residents awakened by the sound of air defenses engaging incoming threats. Debris from intercepted targets fell in the courtyard of a residential building in the Podilskyi district and on the grounds of an educational institution in the Shevchenkivskyi district, according to the Kyiv City Military Administration. Initial reports indicated no casualties in the capital, though authorities continued to assess damage. The Russian Defense Ministry stated its forces carried out a "massive overnight strike" on targets it described as military-related, including industrial facilities, oil refineries, logistics hubs, and port infrastructure.