Russian forces launched a barrage of drones at Ukraine overnight, damaging critical infrastructure across the country.
In the early hours of Friday, Russia attacked Ukraine with about 40 Shahed drones and one X-59 aviation missile, targeting several regions including Kharkiv, Odesa, Kherson and Lviv, Ukrainian officials said.
Ukraine’s air force said they shot down the missile and 24 of the drones, which were launched “in waves and headed in different directions in small groups,” according to a post on Telegram.
“We are strengthening air defense and mobile fire groups,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after the attack. “As winter approaches, Russian terrorists will try to cause more harm. We will be fighting back.”
Officials said there were no reported casualties in the aftermath of the attack, but several facilities — including critical infrastructure and civilian and commercial buildings — were damaged throughout the country.
In the northeastern region of Kharkiv, 10 drones hit several civilian and commercial properties, damaging residential buildings, an educational facility, and an administrative building among others, said Kharkiv’s Governor Oleh Synehubov and Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.
The air force shot down 11 out of the 16 drones over the western Lviv region, Lviv Governor Maksym Kozytskyy said, but a “critical infrastructure facility” was hit by the remaining five. In the southern region of Odesa, regional governor Oleh Kiper reported a strike on an infrastructure facility, with no severe damage or casualties.
Ukrainian MP Kira Rudik on Friday urged Ukraine’s allies to continue sending their support.
“It is natural that such news is increasingly commonplace for you though it is so real and painful for us,” she said on X. “The war in Europe continues. And we need your support.”