IRIA News

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Russian forces launched a barrage of 367 drones and missiles overnight on May 24, 2025, targeting multiple cities across Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv. Ukrainian officials termed the Russian attack as one of the largest aerial assaults since the start of the war.

Ukrainian authorities reported that at least 12 civilians were killed, among them three children, and more than 60 were injured in the attack that marks a grim milestone in the conflict.

Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed the death toll, stating, “This was a combined, ruthless strike aimed at civilians. The enemy once again showed that its goal is fear and death,” he wrote on Telegram. Although earlier reports indicated 13 fatalities, the official count was later confirmed at 12.

Among the dead were three children in the northern region of Zhytomyr, according to local officials. Widespread destruction was reported in multiple regions, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Ternopil, and Khmelnytskyi, as Russia fired 298 drones and 69 missiles. Ukrainian defenses managed to intercept 266 drones and 45 missiles, preventing potentially greater devastation.

Scale of destruction

In the capital, Kyiv, drone strikes injured 11 people, according to Tymur Tkachenko, head of the city’s military administration. Though no deaths were reported within the city itself, four fatalities occurred in the greater Kyiv region.

Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, also came under attack. Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that drones struck three city districts, injuring three people and shattering windows in high-rise buildings.

In the southern city of Mykolaiv, a drone strike killed a 77-year-old man and injured five others. The regional governor shared images of the aftermath, including a gaping hole in an apartment building and debris strewn across the ground.

Meanwhile, the western region of Khmelnytskyi, located hundreds of kilometers from the frontlines, experienced deadly consequences as well. Four people were killed and five more injured in what appeared to be another deliberate targeting of civilian areas.

Ukraine condemns attacks

The Ukrainian government has condemned the attack as further evidence of Moscow’s intent to inflict terror on the population. “The silence of America, the silence of others in the world only encourages Putin,” a Ukrainian official wrote on Telegram. “Every such terrorist Russian strike is reason enough for new sanctions against Russia.”

Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, echoed this sentiment, writing: “Without pressure, nothing will change and Russia and its allies will only build up forces for such murders in Western countries. Moscow will fight if it can produce weapons.”

Attacks after the prisoner swap

The timing of the strike is notable, as it coincides with ongoing ceasefire and prisoner exchange negotiations. Ukraine and Russia carried out one of the largest prisoner swaps over the last three days before the attack. Both sides release a total of 1,000 detainees each. Yet, efforts to secure a broader ceasefire appear to be faltering.

Ukraine and its European allies have been pressing for a 30-day ceasefire as a precursor to more serious peace negotiations. However, these efforts suffered a setback earlier this week when U.S. President Donald Trump declined to impose additional sanctions on Russia for failing to agree to a pause in fighting, a key demand from Kyiv.

As the war approaches its third year, Ukrainian officials have become increasingly vocal in their frustration with what they perceive as a lack of sufficient international response. The scale and brutality of Saturday night’s assault only intensified these calls for stronger action.

“This was the largest attack of the war in terms of weapons fired,” Ukrainian defense officials stated, although they noted that other attacks have resulted in higher casualty counts.

The strategic rationale behind launching such a large-scale attack remains unclear, but analysts believe Russia may be trying to pressure Kyiv and its allies into making political concessions or to signal its continued capacity for escalation.

Russia intercepts the Ukrainian attack

In a rare statement from Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its air defense systems had intercepted or destroyed 95 Ukrainian drones in the last 24 hours. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin added that 12 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted on their way to the Russian capital.

Despite these claims, the Ukrainian leadership remains focused on defending its territory and urging stronger global measures. “Every day without consequences for Moscow leads to more bloodshed,” one Ukrainian official said.

The scale and coordination of the latest attack, affecting regions from the northeast to the west and south, highlight the vulnerability of Ukraine’s urban centers despite increasingly sophisticated air defenses. It also underscores the urgency of Ukraine’s demand for additional military aid and advanced defense systems from the West.

With no sign of a ceasefire and both sides continuing to escalate, the path to peace appears increasingly elusive. Ukraine’s government warns that unless the international community imposes more stringent sanctions and increases pressure on Moscow, Russia will continue its campaign of destruction, not only in Ukraine but potentially beyond its borders.