Russia launched a massive overnight assault on Ukraine late Sunday into Monday, firing 450 missiles and drones that targeted multiple cities and critical infrastructure. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, the attack included 426 Shahed-type drones, Kinzhal missiles, Kalibr missiles, and Kh-101 cruise missiles, making it one of the largest air raids in recent months. Air defenses managed to down or jam 224 targets, including more than 200 attack drones, while 203 drone decoys failed to reach their objectives due to electronic countermeasures.
Kyiv bore the brunt of the bombardment, with at least one person killed and seven others hospitalized across several districts in the capital. Fires broke out in residential and non-residential buildings, metro stations, and critical infrastructure, forcing emergency services into action throughout the city. Other major damage was reported in cities like Ivano-Frankivsk and Dnipropetrovsk, with additional injuries, fires, and widespread power outages impacting thousands of families.
At the same time, Ukraine responded with extensive long-range drone attacks on Russia, triggering unprecedented chaos at Moscow’s major airports. Ukrainian drones forced the temporary shutdown of all four principal Moscow airports Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky resulting in the cancellation and delay of at least 140 flights. Thousands of travelers were left stranded or forced to sleep on terminals’ floors as the Russian defense ministry reported intercepting upwards of 230 Ukrainian drones over the weekend, with 27 shot down over Moscow itself.
Moscow’s aviation authorities imposed repeated closures and reroutings, while extra trains were dispatched to help stranded travelers reach the capital. The disruptions extended as far as Kaluga International Airport southwest of Moscow, further highlighting the reach and impact of Ukraine’s drone operations. These sustained strikes reflect a growing tit-for-tat escalation, with Kyiv vowing to increase pressure on Russian infrastructure as Russia steps up its aerial assault on Ukraine’s cities.
Both sides have warned of more attacks, with the scale of overnight action leaving residents in Ukraine and Russia deeply unsettled, and underlining the intensifying air war as the conflict grinds on.
