Overview
- Kyiv came under a pre-dawn combined attack on Thursday, with drones and ballistic missiles damaging apartment blocks and killing at least one person, according to city officials.
- The night assault followed what Zelenskyy called one of the longest daytime attacks on Wednesday, when he said Russia launched at least 800 drones that killed six and injured dozens across multiple regions.
- Ukraine’s air force said by 8 a.m. Thursday it had shot down or suppressed 693 targets, including 41 missiles and 652 drones, while fresh drone groups continued to enter the country.
- Ukraine’s military intelligence warned the drone waves were meant to saturate defenses before cruise and ballistic missiles, and the sequence unfolded as predicted.
- Poland scrambled fighter jets and western Ukrainian regions reported rail hits and power outages as residents sheltered and emergency crews carried out rescues in damaged buildings.