Widespread Attacks Target Critical Infrastructure and Civilian Areas
In a significant escalation, Russian forces conducted a massive overnight aerial assault on Ukraine on Thursday, February 26, 2026. The barrage involved approximately 420 drones and 39 missiles, including 11 ballistic missiles, primarily targeting Ukraine's vital energy infrastructure and residential areas across eight regions of the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the extensive nature of the strikes, stating that Russia 'again fought against critical infrastructure and ordinary residential buildings.' The attacks resulted in dozens of injuries, with children among the casualties.
Details of the Assault and Targeted Regions
The coordinated strikes aimed at disrupting Ukraine's energy supply and causing damage to civilian structures. Specific energy targets included gas infrastructure in the Poltava region and electrical substations in the Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Additionally, Russian forces also targeted railway infrastructure in the frontline regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia.
Residential areas bore the brunt of several attacks. In Kharkiv Oblast, at least 16 people were injured, including a seven-year-old child, with damage reported in the Shevchenkivskyi, Kyivskyi, Saltivskyi, and Slobidskyi districts. The city of Kharkiv itself was struck by two missiles and 17 drones. Zaporizhzhia saw 10 people injured, including an eight-year-old boy, and damage to 19 apartment buildings. In Kryvyi Rih, two individuals, an 89-year-old man and an 82-year-old woman, sustained injuries.
Ukrainian Air Defense Response and Casualties
Despite the intensity of the assault, Ukrainian air defense systems demonstrated significant effectiveness, intercepting a large portion of the incoming threats. According to Ukrainian officials, 374 drones and 32 missiles were successfully shot down. The intercepted munitions included two Zircon anti-ship missiles, four Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles, all 24 Kh-101 cruise missiles, and both Kh-69 guided air-launched missiles.
However, five ballistic missiles and 46 drones managed to bypass defenses, striking targets at 32 locations across the country. President Zelenskyy acknowledged the crucial role of international partners, crediting them for the 'timely delivery of additional air defense interceptors' that aided in the interceptions. Overall, local authorities reported at least 28 people injured across the affected regions.
International Context and Official Reactions
The extensive Russian strikes occurred just hours before U.S. and Ukrainian envoys were scheduled to hold further talks in Geneva aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, which is now in its fifth year. The attack also came two days after the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reiterated calls for increased military aid from allied countries. In contrast, the Russian Defense Ministry issued a statement asserting that the strikes were 'a response to the terrorist attacks' by Kyiv 'on civilian infrastructure facilities on Russian territory,' claiming that 'The objectives of the strike have been achieved. All designated targets have been hit.' These attacks are consistent with Russia's systematic strategy to degrade Ukraine's energy grid, particularly during the winter months, aiming to create hardship for the civilian population.
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