At least 12 people have died in Ukraine due to overnight attacks by Russian drones and missiles. Regional officials and emergency services confirmed that several areas were hit, leading to injuries and significant destruction.
In the western city of Zhytomyr, three children lost their lives, while a man in his 70s was killed in Mykolaiv, located in the south. The attacks come just a day after Kyiv experienced one of the most intense bombardments since the start of the invasion, which resulted in 13 fatalities.
Russian defense officials reported that their air defense systems intercepted 95 Ukrainian drones over various regions, including Moscow, during a four-hour period on Saturday night. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties from these incidents.
In Khmelnytskyi, four people were killed, and five others were injured. Local authorities reported that six homes were destroyed, with another 20 sustaining damage. In Kyiv, three people died, and 10 were injured, with multiple fires breaking out and damage occurring to residential buildings, including a dormitory. Many residents sought shelter in metro stations as the city celebrated its annual Kyiv Day holiday.
In Zhytomyr, the state emergencies service reported that the three children who died were aged 8, 12, and 17, and 10 others were injured. In Mykolaiv, the body of an elderly man was recovered from a residential building struck by a drone, with another five people injured. Kharkiv also reported three injuries from the attacks.
On the Russian side, officials claimed that Ukrainian drones targeted eight regions, with Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stating that 12 drones were shot down. Debris from these drones caused damage in the Tula region, but thankfully, no injuries were reported.
These attacks occurred amid ongoing prisoner swaps between Ukraine and Russia, following recent talks in Turkey. Both sides exchanged hundreds of soldiers and civilians, with another swap expected soon. This exchange follows the first direct talks in three years between the two nations.
As the conflict continues, the situation remains tense, with both sides experiencing significant losses and ongoing military engagements.