Russia launches rare daytime aerial assault as new offensive begins Russia conducted one of its largest aerial attacks since the war began, launching 948 drones in a single day as it deployed troops and equipment to the front lines, signaling the start of a new offensive. The strikes, which occurred on Tuesday, targeted western Ukraine and resulted in casualties, including two deaths in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk and one in the Vinnytsia region. Footage shared online showed a drone crashing into an old building near a church in Lviv’s historic center, damaging part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounding the 17th-century St. Andrew’s Church. Lviv’s Governor Maksym Kozytskyi confirmed the damage, while Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko condemned the attack, calling it an assault on a “crowded city center in broad daylight.” The attacks followed an overnight bombardment across 11 regions, killing five people, including two in Poltava and one each in Zaporizhia, Kherson, and Kharkiv. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged allies to supply Kyiv with air defense systems, warning that the country faces a missile shortage as the U.S. focuses on its involvement in the conflict with Iran. He emphasized the importance of fulfilling agreements on air defense, stating that such systems are critical for countering Russian ballistic missiles. Zelenskyy also noted that talks between Ukraine and the U.S., held in Florida, had not yet produced a security guarantees agreement. He had previously claimed the document, which would ensure U.S. and allied support in case of a future Russian attack, was “100 percent ready” for signing. However, he acknowledged that the geopolitical situation has grown more complex due to the war on Iran, stressing the need to develop guarantees that could help end the war.#russia #ukraine #lviv #ivanofrankivsk #vinnytsia
Russia launches 948 drones at Ukraine in largest attack over 24-hour period Russia has conducted its most significant aerial assault on Ukraine in a single day since the war began, deploying 948 drones across multiple cities. Ukraine’s Air Force reported 556 drones were launched between 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT) on Tuesday, marking an unusual daytime attack that resulted in at least three deaths and numerous injuries. The strikes targeted both urban and critical infrastructure, with damage reported in several regions. In Lviv, a 16th-century Bernardine monastery, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, sustained damage. Local officials shared images of a residential building on fire adjacent to the monastery, with separate footage showing a drone flying low and striking the structure. Lviv regional head Maksym Kozytskyi stated 32 people were injured in the attack. The city’s neighboring Ivano-Frankivsk region also suffered, with a maternity hospital hit and two fatalities reported, including a six-year-old child. Ternopil, another western Ukrainian city, faced multiple direct hits, though no casualties were confirmed. In Vinnytsia, one person was killed and 13 injured, according to regional head Nataliya Zabolotna. The attacks followed an overnight Russian assault that left five people dead, targeting 11 Ukrainian regions. Ukraine’s Air Force confirmed it shot down most of the drones and missiles but acknowledged multiple direct hits across the country. Yurii Ihnat, a Ukrainian Air Force spokesman, noted a “large number of drones” entered Ukrainian airspace from the north, moving in columns. He described the daytime strikes as covering a broader geographic area than nighttime attacks, calling it one of the largest 24-hour assaults.#russia #ukraine #lviv #maksym_kozytskyi #ivanofrankivsk
