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Russia Pounds Ukraine With Mass Strikes as Air Defenses Battle Hundreds of Drones

A surging drone‑missile campaign aims to exhaust air defenses to deepen blackouts.

Overview

  • Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said at least five civilians were killed Friday in attacks across Sumy, Kharkiv, Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions.
  • Ukraine’s Air Forces reported more than 400 enemy drones in the sky and said Tu‑95 and Tu‑160 bombers took off, as a nationwide alert went out for a MiG‑31K that carries Kinzhal missiles.
  • Kharkiv took heavy hits with 37 impacts across 18 sites, where officials reported one person dead and at least seven injured, and noted faster jet‑driven drones that cut warning time.
  • The grid operator Ukrenergo reported new outages in six oblasts after strikes on energy facilities, and said repair crews are restoring service where security allows.
  • Following the overnight barrage, Ukraine said air defenses downed 26 missiles and 515 drones, while the General Staff confirmed a deep strike that ignited the Bashneft‑Novoil refinery in Ufa about 1,400 km from the border.