Russia Launches Largest Aerial Assault on Ukraine, Killing at Least 5 People

Strategic Insights -

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he believed Ukraine could win back all territory lost to Russia late last month, marking a significant shift in Washington’s Ukraine policy. In response, Russia launched a major nighttime attack on Saturday, firing 53 ballistic and cruise missiles and 496 drones across Ukraine. The assault targeted nine regions, with the western city of Lviv being the hardest hit. Four people, including a 15-year-old, died in a combined drone and missile strike, and at least six more were injured. The strike left two districts of Lviv without power and disrupted public transportation for a few hours.

Key Takeaways:

  • Russia fired 53 ballistic and cruise missiles and 496 drones across Ukraine, causing widespread damage and loss of life.
  • The assault targeted nine regions, with Lviv being the hardest hit.
  • Four people, including a 15-year-old, died in a combined drone and missile strike, and at least six more were injured.
  • The strike left two districts of Lviv without power and disrupted public transportation for a few hours.
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin said he believed Ukraine could win back all territory lost to Russia late last month, marking a significant shift in Washington's Ukraine policy.
  • Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his call for Kyiv's Western partners to send additional air defenses to combat Russia's "aerial terror".
  • Ukraine's state-owned Naftogaz Group said Sunday's attack inflicted further large-scale damage on gas infrastructure that supplies civilians.
  • The company did not elaborate on the damage from the latest strike.

Statistics:

  • 53 ballistic and cruise missiles fired by Russia.
  • 496 drones fired by Russia.
  • 9 regions targeted by Russia's assault.
  • 4 people killed in Lviv, including a 15-year-old.
  • 6 other people injured in Lviv.
  • 2 districts of Lviv without power.
  • Public transportation in Lviv disrupted for a few hours.
  • 73,000 households in Zaporizhzhia and surrounding areas without power.
  • 6 people, including a child, injured in Sloviansk.
  • Russian airstrikes on Saturday evening damaged over two dozen residential buildings in Sloviansk, as well as cars, shops, and a cafe.

Sources:

  • Ukraine's air force
  • President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Telegram post)
  • Maksym Kozytskyi, head of the local military administration (Telegram post)
  • Lviv regional officials
  • Ukraine's emergency service
  • Mayor Andriy Sadovyi (Telegram post)
  • Andriy Sadovyi (Lviv regional government)
  • Svitlana Onyshchuk, regional head of Ivano-Frankivsk region
  • Ivan Fedorov, regional head of Zaporizhzhia
  • Serhii Koretskyi, CEO of Ukraine's state-owned Naftogaz Group (Naftogaz statement)
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin (forum of international foreign policy experts in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi)
  • U.S. officials (statement by Washington’s top diplomat Antony Blinken)