At least two people were killed in Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine early Wednesday, while dozens more were injured in strikes targeting multiple cities across the country, according to Ukrainian officials.
The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched more than 400 drones and a ballistic missile, primarily aimed at Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih, and Vinnytsia. Although most drones were intercepted, at least 12 unspecified targets were struck by the missile and 57 drones.
In the Kharkiv region, two people were confirmed dead following a drone strike near the city of Kupiansk, which has been under repeated Russian assault in recent months. Local emergency services reported the victims were killed east of the city. Three additional people were injured in drone strikes that struck Kharkiv over a 20-minute period, according to regional governor Oleh Syniehubov.
Meanwhile, in Kryvyi Rih, regional military head Oleksandr Vilkul said Russian forces launched a combined missile and drone barrage involving 28 drones. A 17-year-old boy was critically wounded and remains hospitalised in a serious condition. Power and water supplies were also disrupted in some districts due to the strikes.
In Vinnytsia and the surrounding region, at least eight people were injured in further attacks, the Ukrainian interior ministry confirmed.
In Kyiv, anti-aircraft defences were briefly activated, but no casualties or damage were reported, said Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
On the Russian side, one person was reported dead in the Voronezh region after a Ukrainian drone strike, according to regional governor Alexander Gusev.
The aerial assault comes amid a sharp increase in Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine over recent weeks. The Ukrainian military has also stepped up its targeting of Russian energy infrastructure in retaliation. Both nations continue to deny deliberately targeting civilians, although thousands- predominantly Ukrainians- have been killed since the war began more than three years ago.
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