At least seven people were killed and 39 injured in Ukraine after Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of long-range drone attacks overnight into Thursday, Ukrainian officials said.
More Than 130 Drones Launched
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 131 drones overnight. Of those, 106 were shot down or electronically suppressed, while 22 struck targets across 15 locations. Officials warned Thursday morning that additional drones were still in the air.
Christmas Attacks Draw Condemnation
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes, saying Russia continued attacks even on Christmas Eve and Christmas night. He said energy infrastructure and residential areas were targeted, causing power outages and injuries in multiple regions.
Civilian Areas and Infrastructure Hit
Local officials said a Russian drone struck a residential building in Chernihiv, killing two people and injuring others. Additional deaths and injuries were reported in the Odesa and Kharkiv regions, where port, industrial and energy infrastructure was damaged.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said attacks over the past 24 hours also injured at least 14 people in northeastern Ukraine.
Widespread Power Outages
Ukraine’s state electricity operator, Ukrenergo, said drone strikes caused outages in several regions, including Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa. Power consumption restrictions were expected nationwide throughout Thursday.
Russia Reports Intercepting Ukrainian Drones
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down at least 141 Ukrainian drones overnight, including several over the Moscow region. Russian officials also reported damage and injuries in border and southern regions, as well as temporary flight restrictions at some airports.
Fighting Continues Despite Peace Efforts
The latest attacks followed multiple waves of Ukrainian drone strikes earlier in the week. Zelenskyy said Ukraine would continue resisting Russian aggression “in every way possible,” even as diplomatic efforts toward a ceasefire continue.
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