Russian forces unleashed the most extensive aerial assault of the war overnight, launching 367 missiles and drones across multiple Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said Saturday. At least 12 people were killed and dozens more wounded in what Ukrainian leaders condemned as a deliberate strike on civilians.
Among the dead were three children in the northern Zhytomyr region, according to local authorities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the United States and other allies to speak out more forcefully against Russian aggression, warning that silence emboldens Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“The silence of America, the silence of others in the world only encourages Putin,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on Telegram. “Every such terrorist Russian strike is reason enough for new sanctions against Russia.”
While previous Russian attacks have resulted in higher casualties, Ukrainian officials say Saturday’s barrage was the largest of the war in terms of weapons fired.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed the death toll at 12 and reported 60 people injured, calling the strike a “combined, ruthless” assault designed to instill fear. “The enemy once again showed that its goal is fear and death,” Klymenko said on Telegram.
The attack occurred as Ukraine and Russia prepared for the final day of a coordinated prisoner exchange, in which each side is expected to release 1,000 individuals.
U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg condemned the assault, calling it “a clear violation” of the 1977 Geneva Protocols. He also called for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further civilian casualties.
Ukrainian air defenses intercepted many of the incoming threats, though some missiles and drones struck residential areas, igniting fires and damaging critical infrastructure. Emergency crews responded throughout the night and into the morning hours to search for survivors and tend to the wounded.
The latest escalation adds pressure on international allies to increase diplomatic and military support as Ukraine continues to face regular air raids amid stalled peace efforts.
