Massive Russian Air Assault on Ukraine

Russia launched its largest air attack on Ukraine since the war began, bombarding multiple cities (including Kyiv) overnight with an unprecedented salvo of 69 missiles and nearly 300 Iranian-made Shahed drones

. The massive strike killed at least 14 people and injured dozens, despite Ukraine’s air defenses. This assault came just days after tentative peace talks, underscoring the fragility of any de-escalation efforts

The sheer scale of this attack marked a grim milestone in the Russia–Ukraine war, demonstrating Moscow’s continued capacity and willingness to escalate despite international pressure. It highlighted the conflict’s ongoing intensity in its third year and the severe threat to Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure. The timing – amid fledgling peace overtures – suggested that achieving a durable ceasefire would be difficult, keeping Europe on edge and global energy and food security at risk due to the protracted war.