Camilla Jessen
Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Sumy among the hardest hit in latest wave of drone attacks across Ukraine.
As President Trump’s deadline for a Russian ceasefire passed, Ukraine was hit by a massive wave of drone attacks, injuring civilians and damaging critical infrastructure.
Russia Strikes as Trump’s Deadline Passes
Just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire ultimatum to the Kremlin expired, Russian forces launched one of their largest drone assaults in recent months, targeting multiple Ukrainian regions.
According to Ukraine’s Air Force, 108 drones—including jet-powered UAVs—were used in the August 8 attacks.
The barrage wounded at least six civilians and triggered widespread damage in several cities, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Sumy.
Kyiv Region: Homes Hit, Fires Sparked
In Bucha district, just outside Kyiv, three women aged 16, 56, and 80 were injured in the attacks, according to regional military administrator Mykola Kalashnyk.
“Preliminary reports suggest the injuries are not serious,” Kalashnyk wrote on Telegram, adding that drone strikes started fires in residential areas, damaging private homes. Emergency services were quickly dispatched and began response efforts.
Kharkiv Under Fire Again
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov confirmed that Russia targeted the Saltivskyi district with Shahed drones after midnight.
A fire broke out at a civilian enterprise, spreading to the roof and technical floor of a four-story office building.
The State Emergency Service (SES) reported that 50 firefighters and 13 emergency units extinguished the blaze.
A man born in 1959 and a woman born in 1962 suffered acute stress reactions from the incident.
Civilian Areas Targeted in Sumy Region
Sumy also came under attack.
Regional head Oleh Hryhorov said a 54-year-old man was injured near the city when drones hit non-residential buildings, a shop, and a vehicle.
Elsewhere in the Shostka district, three drones damaged apartment buildings, vehicles, and key infrastructure.
“Specialists are assessing the scale of the damage. Rescuers and utility crews are working to eliminate the consequences,” Hryhorov stated.
82 Drones Destroyed, But Some Break Through
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that 104 Shahed and decoy drones, along with eight high-speed UAVs, were launched from five Russian-controlled locations: Shatalovo, Kursk, Bryansk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, and Chauda in occupied Crimea.
Air defense units, electronic warfare teams, and mobile fire squads successfully destroyed or jammed 82 of the drones, including three jet-powered UAVs.
However, 26 drones managed to strike targets in 10 different locations. In addition, falling debris from intercepted drones caused damage in eight other areas.
Earlier Strikes Already Deadly
The August 8 drone attack followed earlier reports of civilian casualties.
In the Donetsk region, Russian forces targeted a Ukrposhta vehicle near Kramatorsk. A Ukrainian postal worker was killed and the driver injured.
