Russian strikes on Ukraine killed at least 13 people on Thursday as missiles and drones hit multiple regions, including Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, and the western city of Lviv. The large-scale attacks also prompted neighbouring Poland to scramble fighter jets to safeguard its airspace amid growing security concerns.
Air raid sirens sounded across much of Ukraine as explosions were reported in the capital, Kyiv. Emergency officials said one person was killed and two others were injured in the city, while several non-residential buildings caught fire. Authorities warned that casualty figures could rise as rescue operations continued.
In Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian officials said a Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile struck a residential area, killing six people, including two girls aged five and 12, and injuring eight others. Additional fatalities were reported in the Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava regions, highlighting the broad geographic scope of the attacks.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned from the United States as the strikes unfolded. He said discussions with US President Donald Trump included agreements to provide Ukraine with licences for Patriot missile systems. Zelenskyy stressed that stronger air defence support from allies remains essential to protecting civilians.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces targeted military facilities across several Ukrainian regions and also struck three cargo ships. Moscow maintained that the attacks were directed at military objectives, while Ukraine continued rescue efforts in affected civilian areas, including damaged apartment buildings in Lviv.
The Russian strikes on Ukraine also affected neighbouring Poland. The Polish military confirmed it deployed fighter aircraft to monitor and protect national airspace. Separately, police in the Lublin region reported discovering a crater and debris from an unidentified object near the Ukrainian border, although investigations remain ongoing.
Meanwhile, Ukraine continued drone operations inside Russia. Officials in Russia reported drone attacks that caused fires at warehouses belonging to a major online retailer and claimed that hundreds of drones were intercepted overnight. The latest Russian strikes on Ukraine and retaliatory attacks underscore the continuing intensity of the conflict despite ongoing international diplomatic efforts.
