Ukraine faced one of the largest Russian drone assaults in recent weeks overnight into Sunday, as Moscow launched more than 200 unmanned aerial vehicles across multiple regions of the country. At least two people were killed and dozens injured, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said the attacks stretched from southern ports to eastern industrial centers.
The strikes hit six regions, including Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi and Odesa. Zelenskyy expressed condolences to the families of the victims and accused Russia of continuing to deliberately target civilian infrastructure. Energy facilities were again among the main objectives, leading to power and heating outages in several areas.
Zelenskyy said Russia had deployed more than 1,300 attack drones, around 1,050 guided aerial bombs and nearly 30 missiles of various types over the past week alone. “That is why Ukraine needs greater protection, above all more air-defense missiles,” he said, urging Western allies to accelerate military assistance. Ukrainian officials argue that strengthening air defenses is critical to preventing further civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.
Kyiv has accused Moscow of deliberately prolonging diplomatic efforts to end the war while intensifying its military campaign. Ukrainian leaders say the Kremlin is seeking to increase pressure on the country in hopes of forcing it to accept a settlement on Russian terms. Analysts note that the strategy combines battlefield attrition with attempts to exhaust Ukraine’s economy and morale.
The escalation has also had repercussions inside Russia. Following Ukrainian counterstrikes, power outages were reported in several Russian regions. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed on Sunday that its air defenses had shot down 63 Ukrainian drones, though it did not provide details on damage or casualties.
The latest wave of attacks highlights how drone warfare has become a central feature of the conflict. Both sides increasingly rely on unmanned systems to strike targets far from the front lines, blurring the distinction between battlefield and civilian rear areas. For Ukraine, the sustained drone campaign underscores its dependence on continued Western support. For Europe and the United States, it serves as another reminder that the war remains volatile, with no clear path to a near-term resolution.