In one of the largest drone attacks on Ukraine, Russia launched 315 drones at Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight into Tuesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described this as one of the largest attacks on the capital, Kyiv, while officials reported that a maternity ward in Odesa, a southern port city, was also hit.
Air raid sirens blared across Kyiv after midnight, signaling an impending attack. The city experienced a terrifying and chaotic night. Residents, hiding in basements, shelters, and other safe areas, could hear the loud explosions of drone strikes. For about three hours, dozens of drones were heard flying over the city center. This was a rare and large-scale attack, with Kyiv residents previously experiencing fewer drones in each assault.
The attack affected seven districts of the capital, damaging high-rise buildings, homes, cars, and warehouses. According to Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, one person was killed, and four others were injured. Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko also confirmed the casualties.
President Zelensky wrote on social media that this was one of the largest attacks on Kyiv, adding that Russian missile and drone strikes were overwhelming the efforts of the United States and other countries working towards peace.
Meanwhile, the southern city of Odesa was also hit by a wave of drone strikes. At least two people were killed, and nine were wounded. One of the strikes hit a maternity ward of a hospital, leaving a scene of devastation. Video footage showed a hospital worker cleaning up broken glass from the maternity ward.
A 78-year-old resident of Odesa, Violetta, shared her terrifying experience, saying her garage and car were destroyed, but she was lucky to escape without injury. She described how the sirens gave her enough time to hide just before the roof of her apartment collapsed.
Lyudmila, a 60-year-old resident, described the terrifying sounds of drone strikes and the destruction they caused in her home.
Additionally, Russia launched ballistic and cruise missiles during the attack, including KN-23 missiles and Iskander-K cruise missiles, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.
These attacks followed Russia’s largest drone assault on Monday, where 479 UAVs were launched at Ukraine, setting a new record for the largest number of drones fired in a single day.