Anna Hartz
Ukraine Reports Hundreds of Drones and Missiles in Overnight Barrage
For more than two years, Ukraine has lived under constant threat from the sky. Entire cities now listen for the sound of air raid sirens at night, not knowing if their homes, schools, or workplaces will still stand by morning.
That fear returned once again this weekend, when Russia carried out one of its largest air assaults in recent months.
Large-Scale Attack
On the night of August 30, Russia launched a massive strike on several regions of Ukraine, reports the Kyiv Independent.
The attack included ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and Iranian-made Shahed drones.
Ukrainian officials reported at least one death and 24 injuries, including three children. Cities hit included Zaporizhia, Dnipro, Pavlohrad, Chernihiv, Lutsk, and Cherkasy.
537 Drones
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched a total of 537 drones, eight Iskander-M ballistic missiles, and 37 cruise missiles.
Ukrainian defenses intercepted most of them, but 24 drones and five missiles reached their targets.
Debris from intercepted weapons fell in 21 locations, damaging homes and civilian infrastructure.
The Damage
In Zaporizhia, regional governor Ivan Fedorov confirmed that a rocket struck a five-story residential building.
One person was killed and dozens were injured, including a 10-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl.
At least 40 houses and 14 apartment buildings were damaged, along with several industrial facilities.
All Night
The assault did not stop with the night. Around 5 a.m., Russia launched another wave of ballistic missiles.
Air raid sirens rang across the country for hours. Poland responded by scrambling fighter jets to guard its airspace, stressing that the move was part of normal defense procedures.
An Attack on Civilians
Ukraine’s state railway reported damage in the Kyiv region, causing significant train delays.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strikes, calling them deliberate attacks on civilians.
He urged stronger international sanctions and a complete cutoff of funding sources for the Russian military.
New Proposals in Preparation
The attacks came just days after another strike on Kyiv that killed 25 civilians. At the same time, diplomatic efforts remain stalled.
Russia refuses to consider agreements with Zelensky, while Ukraine is preparing new proposals for security guarantees.
Zelensky said Russia has used every pause in diplomacy to prepare new strikes. He repeated that only strong sanctions and pressure can bring Moscow back to the table.
