Russian forces launched extensive airstrikes on Ukraine overnight, leading to at least 13 fatalities, including in the western regions of the country, according to reports. In response, Poland has mobilized fighter jets to secure its airspace.
These assaults coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s return from the United States, where he secured a commitment from President Donald Trump for Patriot missile systems to be supplied to Ukraine.
Air raid sirens sounded across most regions of Ukraine, with explosions reported in the capital, Kyiv. Vitali Klitschko, the mayor, noted that several non-residential buildings caught fire following the attacks.
Emergency services reported one death and two injuries in Kyiv, while six others, including two children, were killed in the Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava regions.
“A Dark Night” in Zelensky’s Hometown
In Kirvoy Rog, Zelensky’s hometown, two young girls, aged 5 and 12, were among those killed, with eight others injured from what Oleksandr Vilkul, the city defense council head, characterized as a direct strike from a Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile.
Vilkul described the incident as “a dark night” on Telegram, revealing the missile was launched from Russia’s Voronezh region and struck a large family’s home. He warned that the death toll might rise as emergency teams work to clear debris.
In Lviv, near the Polish border, rescue teams worked to remove rubble to reach individuals trapped after Russian missiles damaged two residential blocks, injuring 15 people, officials reported.
Poland Activates Fighter Jets
Zelensky had previously cautioned about the likelihood of a major Russian offensive, stating that the safety of Ukrainians hinges on allies providing missile defense systems.
Poland, a member of the European Union and NATO, activated its fighter jets amid the Russian air assaults, according to Polish military forces on social media. “Fighter jets and an early warning aircraft have begun operations, while ground-based air defense systems and radar reconnaissance systems have reached a state of alert,” they stated, emphasizing that these measures are precautionary.
Russia’s Claims
The Russian Defense Ministry asserted that its forces targeted “military installations” across Ukraine, from Kyiv to Lviv and Dnipropetrovsk, as well as three cargo ships.
These ships, allegedly transporting weapons and military supplies, were struck near Odesa, close to the Black Sea, according to statements made by the Minister on Telegram.
Ukraine Targets Major Russian Retailer Wildberries
A warehouse of Russia’s largest online retailer, Wildberries, was set ablaze in the city of Penza following a Ukrainian drone attack, reported regional governor Oleg Melnichenko on Telegram.
One individual was injured, and around 200 people were evacuated from the scene, the official noted, just a day after the company had evacuated another unit in central Russia due to previous attacks.
Following the incident in Penza, Wildberries has redirected its supply chains as announced on Telegram.
Impact on Wildberries
The losses for Wildberries exacerbate the hardships faced by ordinary Russians, many of whom rely on online sales as a primary source of income, while Ukraine continues to strike energy facilities and refineries, deepening the fuel crisis in the world’s largest country by area.
Recent drone attacks have damaged over 10 of Wildberries’ warehouses, destroying approximately 10% of storage capacity and causing significant losses for tens of thousands of small businesses utilizing the platform, according to the company and local authorities.
Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, warned it might need to increase provisions for credit losses as the strikes on Wildberries impact the finances of online merchants and their suppliers.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, a total of 258 drones were shot down overnight, including in areas of Ukraine occupied by Russia.
