Russia Launches One of Its Largest Air Attacks of the War Days After Ukraine’s Bomber Raid

 

Early Friday, Russia conducted a massive assault on Ukraine, firing drones and ballistic missiles across broad areas, resulting in at least four fatalities and dozens of injuries. This attack came just days after Kyiv executed a daring operation targeting Moscow’s strategic bomber fleet.

In Kyiv, residents experienced the familiar sounds of war: the shriek of drones, sirens blaring, and multiple explosions overhead—whether from air defenses intercepting incoming missiles or projectiles hitting the city.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia used more than 400 drones and 40 missiles during the overnight assault, marking it among the largest strikes of the ongoing conflict. Zelensky added that Moscow targeted nearly all of Ukraine, citing nine regions from Lviv in the west to Sumy in the northeast.

Despite almost daily attacks over three years of full-scale war, Ukrainians had prepared for retaliation following Kyiv’s daring operation last Sunday, which struck over a third of Russia’s strategic cruise missile carriers.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, warned that Moscow would respond to Kyiv’s recent attack. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed the strikes were in retaliation for Ukraine’s “terrorist acts,” but it remains unclear whether this marks the full extent of Russia’s response or if further escalation is planned. Following Kyiv’s operation, pro-Kremlin commentators called for severe—and potentially nuclear—retaliation.

By Friday morning, residents in Kyiv could see the damage wrought by the strikes: flames engulfing apartment buildings, firefighting crews working amidst the debris, and broken windows covered in shards of glass and masonry.

Ukraine’s military reported shooting down 406 of the 452 projectiles launched by Russia, which included 407 drones, six ballistic missiles, and 38 cruise missiles. The remaining missiles either missed their targets or were intercepted.

Four people were killed in Kyiv, including three firefighters, according to mayor Vitali Klitschko. It was not clear if his death toll included the firefighters. Strikes also affected Chernihiv near Belarus, with 14 explosions reported, and Lutsk near Poland, where five injuries were documented. Footage confirmed at least four missiles hitting Lutsk, causing fiery explosions.

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The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted and destroyed 174 Ukrainian drones overnight, along with three Neptune-MD guided missiles over the Black Sea.

Ukrainians had been anticipating Russia’s retaliation ever since last weekend’s attack on Moscow’s bomber fleet, which damaged around 34% of the strategic bombers stationed as far as Siberia. Additionally, Ukraine launched a raid on the Kerch Bridge connecting Russia to Crimea, using 1,100 kilograms of explosives underwater.

Following President Trump’s call with Putin on Wednesday, the U.S. leader reported that Putin had threatened to respond to Ukraine’s recent attacks. Trump did not appear to encourage restraint, which alarmed many in Ukraine.

Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Merezhko criticized the situation, telling CNN, “When Putin mentions he is going to retaliate or deliver a new strike against Ukraine, we know what it means—civilians will be harmed. And President Trump didn’t ask Putin to stop.”

Despite Trump’s recent support for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul, he seemed to adopt a more detached stance on Thursday, likening the war to a childish fight. In the Oval Office, Trump remarked, “Sometimes you see two young children fighting like crazy… and you try to pull them apart. Sometimes it’s better to let them fight a little while before stopping them.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was present but silent during the remark.