Russia launched another overnight wave of drones and missiles against Ukraine, striking multiple regions and damaging civilian sites as the war continues into its fifth year.
Ukrainian officials said residential buildings, power facilities and other public infrastructure were hit. Air-raid sirens sounded across several cities as air defenses tried to intercept incoming weapons. Explosions were reported in urban areas. Firefighters, rescue crews and medical teams worked through the night to extinguish fires, treat the wounded and survey the damage.
Authorities told residents to remain in shelters and follow official instructions, warning that further strikes were possible.
Early Tuesday reporting put the toll from attacks in and around Kyiv at at least 11 to 12 people killed and more than a dozen wounded, including children, according to local officials and international wires. Ukraine’s air force said the assault began Monday evening and involved ballistic and cruise missiles as well as more than 200 drones and decoys, a portion of them jet-powered and harder to intercept. Officials said the Kyiv and Odesa regions were among the main targets. The barrage marked a sixth consecutive day of strikes on the capital area.
Moscow described similar operations as strikes on military-related targets, including weapons production, storage and related infrastructure. Kyiv says civilian neighborhoods and energy facilities have also been hit, adding strain to air defenses already stretched by repeated large-scale raids.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said an Indian citizen was among those killed overnight and described the barrage as including a significant number of jet-powered drones and ballistic missiles. Those public comments are among the latest official statements from the Ukrainian leadership.
**Unverified social media claims**
Separately, unverified posts on social media claimed a Russian strike hit a secure location in Ukraine and killed Zelenskyy. Some of those posts also asserted that Ukrainian media were reporting the incident.
The Ukrainian government has not confirmed any such death. No established international news organization has verified the claim. Zelenskyy’s own comments on the overnight attack contradict the rumor. Fact-checkers have previously found similar assassination claims circulating without evidence.
In wartime, false reports about senior leaders often spread quickly online. Until Ukrainian officials or multiple independent, credible news outlets confirm otherwise, allegations that Zelenskyy has been killed should be treated as unverified and not reported as fact.
The situation on the ground remains fluid. Rescue and damage assessments continue, and further official updates are expected as Ukraine reviews the latest wave of strikes and Russia’s military characterizes its targets.
