Russia launched a large-scale overnight attack on Ukraine, targeting civilian areas with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, killing at least 16 people and injuring more than 80 others, officials said Thursday. The assault was described as the biggest aerial barrage in nearly two weeks, highlighting the continued intensity of the conflict.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that nearly 700 drones, along with several ballistic and cruise missiles, were deployed, primarily aimed at civilian targets. In the capital city of Kyiv, at least four people, including a 12-year-old child, were killed, while more than 50 others sustained injuries. Emergency services worked through the night to assist victims and assess the damage. In the southern port city of Odesa, nine people were killed and 23 others were injured in the strikes. The central Dnipro region reported three fatalities and around three dozen injuries. Meanwhile, in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia, one person was confirmed dead.

Sybiha strongly condemned the attacks, calling them war crimes and stressing that such actions must not become normalized. He urged the international community to hold those responsible accountable. Ukraine’s air force reported that its air defense systems successfully intercepted or disabled 667 out of 703 incoming threats, including hundreds of drones. Despite these efforts, 20 drones and 12 missiles managed to strike 26 different locations, causing significant damage.