Four killed as Russia launches heaviest aerial assault on Ukraine

Russia has carried out its most intense aerial bombardment of Ukraine so far this year, resulting in death of four people, launching major overnight strikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv, according to reports.

The attacks reportedly caused power cuts in the Ukrainian capital, while strikes on Kharkiv hit key infrastructure, including a postal terminal. Dozens of people were rescued from damaged buildings in the city. Smaller-scale attacks were also reported in the southern port city of Odesa and in central Kryvyi Rih.

According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia fired at least 293 drones and 18 missiles during the overnight assault. The scale of the attack exceeded that of last Thursday night into Friday, when 278 aerial weapons were used, including an Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile.

The latest strikes came amid mounting international concern over Russia’s use of increasingly powerful weaponry. 

Late on Monday, Russia was strongly condemned at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council for firing a nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile at the western city of Lviv, located just 50 miles from the border with Nato member Poland.

The United States’ deputy ambassador to the UN, Tammy Bruce, had accused Moscow of a “dangerous and inexplicable escalation” of its nearly four-year-long war in Ukraine. She said the attack came at a time when the Trump administration was attempting to broker a ceasefire between the two sides.