At least eight people were killed in Ukraine as Russian drone and missile strikes battered Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and Odesa, overnight into Tuesday morning.
Russia Launches Massive Aerial Assault
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia deployed 322 air attack vehicles, consisting of 315 drones and seven missiles. The air force said it shot down or neutralized 277 drones and all seven missiles.
Kyiv’s military administration confirmed at least four people were injured in the capital. “The majority of the damage was sustained by civilian infrastructure,” the administration wrote on Telegram.
In Odesa, local officials reported two deaths and nine injuries. A maternity hospital and an emergency medical center were among the buildings struck.
Heavy Casualties Near Front Lines
In the eastern Donetsk region, three people were killed and eight injured by artillery and drone attacks, according to local authorities. In the southern city of Kherson, one person died and eight others were injured.
Zelenskyy Urges Global Action
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on social media that the strikes hit Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Chernihiv regions, noting that at least two North Korean-made ballistic missiles were among the munitions used.
“Residential buildings and urban infrastructure were damaged,” Zelenskyy wrote. “In Odesa, even a maternity hospital became a Russian target. Thirteen people were injured. Tragically, there are fatalities. My condolences to the families.”
“It is vital that the response to this and other similar Russian attacks is not silence from the world, but concrete action,” Zelenskyy added.
“Action from America, which has the power to force Russia into peace,” he said. “Action from Europe, which has no alternative but to be strong. Action from others around the world who called for diplomacy and an end to the war — and whom Russia has ignored. There must be strong pressure for the sake of peace.”
Russia Responds to Ukrainian Drones
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces downed 103 Ukrainian drones Monday night and Tuesday morning. The attack came 24 hours after Russia targeted Ukraine with more than 470 drones — one of the largest aerial strikes of the conflict, according to Ukraine’s air force.
Prisoner Swap Offers Glimpse of Diplomacy
Earlier Monday, Russia and Ukraine conducted the first stage of a prisoner swap after reaching an agreement during peace talks in Istanbul.
For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.