A “massive” Russian drone and missile attack hit several regions in Ukraine overnight – leaving 12 dead, including children, and dozens injured, authorities have said.
Amid flailing peace talks, the widespread strikes took place for a second consecutive night as planned prisoner swaps continue in the daytime.
Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s first deputy prime minister, said three children were among the 12 dead. Writing in a post on X, she described it as “another night of terror” and said: “Russia’s targets are clear: homes, families, children.”
Ukraine‘s air force said Russia bombarded the country with 298 drones and 69 missiles, making it one of the largest aerial attacks of the war since the invasion in February 2022. The air force said it downed 266 drones and 45 missiles.
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Sounds of explosions could be heard throughout the night in Kyiv and the surrounding area, in the north of the country. At least four people in the capital were among the dead, according to Ukraine’s security service.
There were other attacks across the country, including drone strikes in Mykolaiv, southern Ukraine, where a residential building was hit.
Footage from Odesa, about 80 miles away, showed emergency responders trying to extinguish fires as smoke billowed from cars and houses.
Meanwhile, Russia said it too faced a Ukrainian drone attack on Sunday, and that it intercepted and destroyed around 100 near Moscow and across the country’s central and southern regions. Its defence ministry did not report any casualties.
The attacks took place ahead of the third day of a planned prisoner swap – the only tangible outcome from peace talks earlier in May which have so far failed to produce a ceasefire.
‘Massive’ attack
Explosions could be heard throughout the night in Kyiv. Pic: Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP
In Kyiv, the city’s administration urged people to remain in shelters. Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko described it as a “massive” attack.
He said: “Explosions in the city. Air defence forces are working. The capital is under attack by enemy UAVs. Do not neglect your safety! Stay in shelters!”
Mr Klitschko said a student dormitory in the city’s Holosiivskyi district was hit by a drone and one of the building’s walls was on fire, while in Dniprovskyi district, a private house was destroyed.
Firefighters search the rubble in Zhytomyr region. Pic: Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP
In her post on X, Ms Svyrydenko said: “In Zhytomyr, three children were killed – 8, 12, and 17 years old.
“In Kyiv region, four more people were killed. Sixteen injured.
“In Khmelnytskyi, four dead, five wounded.
“In Mykolaiv, a Russian drone targeted a five-story apartment building, killing one and injuring five.”
She continued: “Ukraine is standing. But we are asking-not for sympathy, but for action. Air defense. Sanctions. Pressure. Now.”
It came after at least 15 people were injured in attacks the night prior.
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A municipality worker cleans up after a drone strike on Kyiv. Pic: Reuters
Russia ‘dragging out the war’
Despite the attacks, Russia and Ukraine have continued the prisoner exchange, marking a rare moment of co-operation in the war.
Once completed, the swap will amount to the largest exchange of prisoners in more than three years.
Amid the most recent attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy repeated his calls for sanctions on Russia.
Russia “fills each day with horror and murder” and is “simply dragging out the war”, he said.
An apartment building severely damaged in Kyiv. Pic: Reuters
“All of this demands a response – a strong response from the United States, from Europe, and from everyone in the world who wants this war to end,” Mr Zelenskyy added.
Every day “gives new grounds for sanctions against Russia”, he said, and each day without pressure proves the “war will continue”.
Ukraine, meanwhile, is ready for “any form of diplomacy that delivers real results”.
