Russia launches deadliest aerial attack in months, killing 18 in Ukraine

In a large-scale aerial assault, Russia launched over 700 drones and missiles at Ukraine overnight, resulting in at least 18 deaths across the country. The attacks, which local officials described as the deadliest in months, impacted cities including Odesa, Dnipro, and Kyiv. In Kyiv, four people, including a child, were killed and 45 injured. Simultaneously, Russia reported that a Ukrainian drone attack in the Krasnodar region killed two people, including a child. The attacks follow a brief ceasefire over Orthodox Easter, during which both sides accused each other of violations, and are part of the ongoing conflict that began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia launched its deadliest attack on Ukraine this year, killing at least 17 and injuring over 100 across the country on Thursday. The attacks, involving drones and missiles, struck various regions, including Odesa, Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia. Kyiv experienced explosions and Ukrainian air defenses were activated around 2:30 AM. The strikes damaged civilian buildings, leaving residents injured and displaced. The attacks come after President Zelenskyy warned of a critical shortage of US-made Patriot air-defense missiles. Russia has consistently targeted civilian infrastructure since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

Russian forces launched a massive aerial attack on Ukraine, targeting civilian areas with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles over several hours. The attack, which began during the day and continued into the night, resulted in at least 16 deaths and over 80 injuries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently returned from a diplomatic trip to Germany, Norway, and Italy in search of air defense systems to counter Russian missiles. Ukraine has developed its own drone and missile production capabilities but lacks the sophistication of US Patriot systems. The attack is part of Russia's ongoing efforts to target civilians since its invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago. The United Nations reports that over 15,000 Ukrainian civilians have died in strikes since the invasion began.

In the deadliest attack this year, Russia launched missile and drone strikes across Ukraine overnight, killing at least 16 people and wounding 100. The attacks, which occurred on Thursday, targeted Kyiv, Odesa, and Dnipro, causing widespread damage and fires. Kyiv's mayor reported four deaths in the capital, including a child, while Odesa saw nine fatalities and Dnipro reported two. Residential buildings were set ablaze in Dnipro. President Zelensky stated the attacks demonstrate Russia's unworthiness of eased sanctions and called for continued and timely aid to Ukraine.

On Thursday, Russian forces launched drone and missile attacks on Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Odesa in Ukraine. The strikes resulted in the deaths of three people, including a 12-year-old child in Kyiv, and injured over 20 others. Kyiv experienced significant damage to residential buildings, with rescuers pulling a child from rubble. Attacks in Dnipro, Kharkiv and Odesa also resulted in injuries. Air raid alerts were issued, and civilians were urged to seek shelter as Russia continues its intensified aerial attacks throughout Ukraine.

Russian attacks on Ukraine on April 16, 2026, killed at least 16 people and wounded dozens more in Kyiv, Odesa, and Dnipropetrovsk. Strikes on Kyiv killed four, including a 12-year-old child, while Odesa suffered nine fatalities. Russia stated its strikes targeted Ukrainian cruise missile and drone production facilities, as well as energy infrastructure supporting Kyiv's forces, and were in response to Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilian targets. Ukraine reported that it intercepted the majority of the 659 drones and 44 missiles launched by Russia. Russia also claimed that a Ukrainian drone attack on Tuapse killed two children.