At least 13 dead in ‘massive’ Russian drone and missile strike overnight in Ukraine

At least 13 people are dead and dozens more injured after Vladimir Putin unleashed a massive drone and missile strike on Ukraine overnight.

The nine-hour aerial bombardment took place for a second night running despite planned prisoner exchanges taking place in the daytime.  

Ukrainian armed forces reported 367 Russian missiles and drones, including nine ballistic missiles, being fired at locations across the country.

The strikes overnight into today followed one of the largest bombardments since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. 

Kyiv mayor Vitaliy Klitschko described it as a ‘massive’ attack as the city’s authorities urged people to stay in shelters.  

Footage showed people huddled in a Kyiv Metro station with many sleeping on the floor.  

Mr Klitschko said: ‘Explosions in the city. Air defence forces are working. The capital is under attack by enemy UAVs. Do not neglect your safety! Stay in shelters!’ 

Three children were among 12 dead, according to Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s first deputy prime minister. 

She wrote on X: ‘Russia’s targets are clear: homes, families, children.’ 

The death toll later rose to 13 with 50 wounded in the attack on Ukraine’s civilian population, according to Ukraine’s Spravdi X channel.  

Explosions rang out through the night in Kyiv and the nearby areas as Ukrainian air defence forces fought to take down drones and missiles. Mkyolaiv and Odessa were also targeted. 

Speaking on Saturday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the country had been targeted by a ‘large-scale and vile Russian attack’ which included ballistic missiles and 250 drones.  

He said on X: ‘Russia fills each day with horror and murder, it’s simply dragging out the war.  

‘All of this demands a response — a strong response from the United States, from Europe, and from everyone in the world who wants this war to end.’ 

Ukraine’s Armed Forces said 45 Russian ‘winged rockets’ had been downed and 266 enemy UAVs damaged, including 139 shot down.  

The large-scale Russian attacks come after Russia and Ukraine began a major prisoner exchange – the first phase of a ‘1,000-for-1,000’ swap that was agreed on by the two sides at a meeting in Istanbul last week. 

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