President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned Friday that fresh Russian air attacks were imminent — a warning he reiterated Monday night. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Moscow launched 650 drones and 73 cruise missiles in the nighttime offensive.
“Russia once again demonstrates that its goal is to terrorize the civilian population,” Ukraine’s Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said. “These are deliberate strikes on residential areas, hospitals, schools, and critical and civilian infrastructure.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry urged foreign diplomats to evacuate Ukraine’s capital last week, warning the country would soon begin “consistent and systemic strikes”.
Despite the carnage, Sybiha said the attack showed that “Moscow is losing on the battlefield. No number of missiles can change this.”
Ukrainian air defenses shot down the overwhelming majority of Russian drones, but only around half the missiles launched by the Kremlin. Zelenskyy sent a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump last week, warning that the country was running low on American ballistic missile interceptors.