KYIV, Ukraine — On the night of Wednesday, August 26th into the early hours of Thursday, August 27th, Russia launched a "massive" missile and drone strike targeting nine cities across Ukraine, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

The bombardment continued into daylight hours, with explosions heard around Kyiv through the morning. Ukrainian officials reported that the attack killed a 78-year-old woman in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and another person in the northern Kharkiv region, with at least 14 others wounded elsewhere.

Damage from the barrage included a 16-story residential building, two educational facilities, and a grain elevator. Ukrainian state rail company Ukrzaliznysia noted that some train services were delayed by more than 17 hours following the attack.

Ukraine faces a shortage of U.S.-made Patriot air defense missiles capable of countering Russia's ballistic missiles. Additionally, Moscow's use of fast-flying jet-powered drones has posed new challenges since the full-scale invasion began over four years ago. Ukrainian officials say Russia frequently builds up missile stocks and launches major attacks every few days to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses.

In response, Ukraine has targeted high-profile locations on Russian soil, contributing to ongoing mutual destruction.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on social media, “Russia continues to invest in missiles and in expanding its war, and that means more countermeasures are needed,” highlighting recent European promises to provide additional air defense support.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that its air defenses shot down 267 Ukrainian drones over 14 Russian regions, including the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula, the Sea of Azov, and the Black Sea.

Sources