Russia fires nearly 1,000 drones at Ukraine in one of the war’s largest attacks

Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine in recent months, firing nearly 1,000 drones within a 24-hour period, according to Ukrainian military officials.

More than 550 of the drones were reportedly deployed in a rare daytime attack targeting multiple locations across the country.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strikes left at least 40 people injured, including five children.

In the western region of Ivano-Frankivsk, at least two people were killed, including a National Guard soldier and his 15-year-old daughter. Reports indicate they were visiting a maternity ward where the soldier’s wife had recently given birth.

Additional casualties were recorded in other areas. In Vinnytsia, a 59-year-old man was killed and 11 others injured. In Lviv, at least 22 people sustained injuries following the attacks.

According to Ukraine’s air force, at least 15 direct hits were confirmed, while 541 drones were intercepted or neutralized.

The strikes caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings and city centers. A maternity hospital in Ivano-Frankivsk was among the affected facilities.

In Lviv, parts of the historic Bernardine Monastery Complex, a site within the UNESCO-listed historic center, were also damaged. Authorities said the extent of the destruction is still being assessed, with nearby buildings reportedly engulfed in flames.

Ukrainian officials condemned the attack, describing it as one of the most intense in recent weeks and a sign of continued escalation in the conflict.

Meanwhile, in Russia’s Kursk region, local authorities reported that a Ukrainian drone strike killed one person and injured 13 others.

The latest developments highlight the ongoing intensity of the war, with both sides continuing to carry out large-scale drone operations despite no clear end to the conflict in sight.