Russia launched a large-scale air attack on Ukraine on Thursday night, using more than 70 missiles and around 280 drones across the country. At least eight people were killed and dozens injured.
In the capital Kyiv, a 31-year-old man died and two others were injured. The attacks damaged homes, vehicles and storage facilities. Air raid alerts lasted more than five hours, and thousands of people sheltered in metro stations.
Near Kryvyi Rih, an Iskander-M ballistic missile struck a private residence, killing six people, including two girls aged 5 and 12. Casualties were also reported in the Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava regions.
In Lviv, about 60 kilometers from the Polish border, at least 30 people were injured, and more than 20 homes, a school and two kindergartens were damaged. Rescue teams worked to reach those trapped under the rubble.
Missile debris in Polish airspace
The Polish military detected an unidentified object moving west in its airspace around 4 a.m. An F-16 fighter jet was scrambled to intercept, but the object disappeared from radar within minutes.
Later, a 10-meter-wide crater and scattered debris were found in a farm field near Tarnawa-Kolonia. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, "All indications are that it was a Russian Kh-101 missile." Officials said the missile was not aimed at Polish territory, but would have been shot down if it had continued toward a populated area.
Tusk added that the United States wanted to join the investigation.
EU sends new military aid to Ukraine
Following the attacks, the European Union sent a new $4 billion financial aid tranche to Ukraine. According to the European Commission, the funds will be used to procure drones, missiles, air defense systems and fighter jets. This is part of a $100 billion loan previously approved by the EU.
Zelenskyy discusses sanctions and Patriot missiles in US
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attack highlighted the critical shortage of Western-supplied air defense missiles. Zelenskyy met with US President Donald Trump this week and discussed the licensed production of Patriot interceptor missiles in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy also attended the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham and then watched the Senate vote on a sanctions package. The first procedural vote on the "Russia and Iran Sanctions Act," named after Graham, passed 86-12, and the second vote passed 84-12. The bill provides for sanctions on Russian officials, oligarchs, financial institutions, energy projects and ships accused of evading sanctions; it also includes tariffs of up to 100% on imports from the five countries that buy the most Russian oil and natural gas.
Zelenskyy described the sanctions package as an important message to Russia, Europe and the Ukrainian people.
