At least two individuals lost their lives and 14 others were injured due to a series of drone attacks launched by Russian forces on Ukraine overnight into Saturday. This escalation is part of a broader campaign that has heightened fears of continued violence in the more than three-year-old conflict. The assault targeted the Bukovina area in the Chernivtsi region, located in southwestern Ukraine, where regional Governor Ruslan Zaparaniuk confirmed that the fatalities were a result of falling debris from a drone.
In addition to the attacks in Chernivtsi, a separate drone strike in Ukraine’s western Lviv region resulted in injuries to six individuals, according to regional Governor Maksym Kozytskyi. Furthermore, the northeastern city of Kharkiv experienced its own wave of violence, with Mayor Ihor Terekhov reporting that three people were wounded after the city was subjected to an assault involving eight drones and two missiles.
During the overnight offensive, the Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched a staggering 597 drones and decoys, complemented by 26 cruise missiles. Ukrainian defenses managed to intercept a notable number of these attacks, successfully shooting down 319 drones and 25 cruise missiles. However, 258 decoy drones were lost, likely due to electronic jamming techniques deployed by Ukrainian forces.
The increase in long-range attacks by Russia has become evident in recent days. Earlier in the week, for example, Russia unleashed over 700 attack and decoy drones during a single night, marking the third consecutive instance of surpassing previous nightly assault records. These recent attacks have notably included strikes targeting Lutsk, strategically located near the Polish border, which serves as a critical hub for the reception of foreign military aid to Ukraine.
In response to the heightened military activity, Poland's air force took precautions by scrambling fighter jets to patrol areas bordering Ukraine, as reported by Polish officials. This escalation of hostilities correlates with Russia's intensified efforts to penetrate various segments of the extensive 1,000-kilometer (approximately 620-mile) front line, where Ukrainian troops are reportedly facing severe pressure and challenges.
In the midst of this offensive, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted and shot down 33 Ukrainian drones during the same overnight period, reflecting the ongoing tactical skirmishes along the line of conflict.
The situation continues to unfold with significant humanitarian implications as both sides engage in compounded military confrontations, underscoring the dire need for concerted international efforts aimed at achieving a resolution to the protracted war.
