Russian drone and missile strikes hit multiple Ukrainian cities overnight, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 40, Ukrainian officials said on April 16.
The attacks targeted the capital Kyiv as well as the central city of Dnipro, damaging residential buildings and critical infrastructure. Emergency services reported that several victims were pulled from the rubble after strikes hit apartment blocks.
Ukraine’s air force said dozens of drones and missiles were launched, with air defenses intercepting many but not all of them. Officials warned the toll could rise as rescue operations continued. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes, accusing Russia of deliberately targeting civilians and calling for increased Western military support.
The latest barrage comes amid ongoing fighting along the front lines and follows a recent escalation in aerial attacks by Moscow in recent weeks. Analysts say the continued strikes highlight Russia’s strategy of pressuring Ukraine’s infrastructure and population despite ongoing international calls for de-escalation.
