PR in the Philippines

(SeaPRwire) –   Russian forces unleashed a massive, hours-long aerial assault on Ukrainian civilian centers, deploying hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles from daylight through the night. Officials reported Thursday that the strikes resulted in at least 16 deaths and over 80 injuries, leaving residents in a state of terror as they sought shelter.

Authorities stated that Russia fired nearly 700 drones and scores of ballistic and cruise missiles in its most significant aerial bombardment in nearly two weeks, with a clear focus on civilian targets.

Kyiv resident Tetiana Sokol, 54, described the harrowing experience of taking refuge in her hallway with her dog as two missiles struck near her home, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky.

“During the third strike, everything was destroyed and flying everywhere; we were in shock and didn’t know where to go. I grabbed what I could and fled with my dog,” she told The Associated Press. “I still can’t locate my cats; they must have hidden somewhere. The windows are gone, and my dog remains traumatized.”

Since the full-scale invasion began over four years ago, Moscow has targeted civilian areas almost daily, with these routine strikes occasionally escalating into large-scale barrages. According to the United Nations, these attacks have claimed the lives of more than 15,000 Ukrainian civilians.

Zelenskyy on a mission to improve air defenses

This latest wave of attacks followed a 48-hour diplomatic tour by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Germany, Norway, and Italy, where he sought urgent assistance to bolster air defense capabilities against Russian missiles.

While Ukraine has expanded its domestic arms production, particularly for drones and missiles, it currently lacks the advanced capabilities of U.S. Patriot systems. Zelenskyy emphasized this week that securing international support to acquire and develop superior air defenses is the nation’s top diplomatic priority.

Furthermore, Ukraine is in urgent need of a 90 billion euro ($106 billion) loan from the European Union, which has been stalled by Hungary.

Kyiv has expressed concern that the conflict in Iran is depleting the supply of advanced American-made systems it requires, and it has opposed a U.S. temporary waiver on Russian oil sanctions, arguing that the policy provides financial support for the Kremlin’s war effort.

“Another night has confirmed that Russia does not merit any relaxation of global policy or the lifting of sanctions,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.

He expressed gratitude to Germany, Norway, and Italy for new agreements reached this week regarding support for Ukraine’s air defenses, adding that officials are also coordinating with the Netherlands for additional supplies.

However, he noted that some partner nations have failed to fulfill previous military aid commitments.

“I have directed the Commander of the Air Force to reach out to those partners who previously pledged to provide missiles for Patriot and other systems,” Zelenskyy stated.

Other areas of Ukraine and Russia were also hit

This bombardment represents the largest in several weeks. Last month, Russia launched 948 drones and 34 missiles within a 24-hour period, marking the most extensive assault on civilian areas since the war began.

In Kyiv, authorities reported at least four deaths, including a 12-year-old, and over 50 injuries. The strikes damaged 17 apartment buildings, 10 private homes, a hotel, an office complex, a car dealership, a gas station, and a shopping center.

Casualties were also reported elsewhere: nine people died and 23 were injured in the southern port of Odesa; three women were killed and approximately three dozen people were injured in the central Dnipro region; and one person was killed in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia.

“Such attacks cannot be normalized. These are war crimes that must be halted and those responsible must be held accountable,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha posted on X.

Ukraine’s air force reported that its defenses intercepted or neutralized 667 of the 703 incoming targets, including 636 Shahed-style drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles. It noted that 20 strike drones and 12 missiles successfully hit 26 different locations.

Meanwhile, in Russia, Veniamin Kondratyev, governor of the Krasnodar region, stated that a 14-year-old girl and a woman were killed by Ukrainian strikes in the Black Sea port of Tuapse.

He reported damage to six apartment buildings, 24 private homes, and three schools, noting that drone debris also fell near the port. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses intercepted 207 Ukrainian drones overnight.