Russia launches one of the heaviest attack waves since the start of the war on Ukrainian cities

Severe damage in Kyiv

Frightened residents of Kyiv sought shelter in metro stations, with many sleeping in tents set up there to protect themselves from the air strikes. At one point during the night, a full dozen Russian bombers were operating in the airspace, as The Kyiv Independent reported citing sources.

Air raid alerts and explosions were also reported in other cities in southeastern and northeastern Ukraine – including Zaporizhzhia, Pavlohrad, Sumy, and Kharkiv. No confirmed information was initially available about possible damage and casualties in these locations.

Expansion to other cities

In Russian attacks on Odesa and Kharkiv, deaths were reported according to agencies and SRF. The exact number of victims and the extent of the destruction were initially unclear; the initial reports could not be independently verified.

Parallel to the Russian attacks, the Ukrainian armed forces carried out their own strikes deep on Russian state territory. In the early morning hours, Russian arms factories and a refinery far from the border were targeted, as sources reported. In addition, Ukraine said it destroyed a bridge in the Donetsk region.

Ukrainian counterattacks deep into Russia

On the margins of the fighting, a legal proceeding attracted attention: As research by German media revealed, authorities have for the first time brought charges in the case of the attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines – against a Ukrainian. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did not want to comment on the charges.

First charges in the Nord Stream case

In addition, the economic situation in Russia continued to worsen. According to reports, Russia closed border crossings for rail traffic. Zelensky also criticized that companies in the EU continue to operate for Russia. Ukraine meanwhile asked the EU to release 6.6 billion euros to support its own budget.

The reports are based on, among other things, agency reports, SRF, and the reporting of The Kyiv Independent. Ukraine has officially reported the attacks on Kyiv. No information was initially available on possible casualty figures beyond the confirmed deaths in Odesa and Kharkiv.

The overall situation illustrates a further escalation level in the ongoing war: Russian large-scale attacks on civilian infrastructure in at least five Ukrainian cities face Ukrainian attacks on strategically significant targets deep in the Russian hinterland. International observers see the wave of attacks as a signal for a persistently high intensity of fighting.