Kyiv, Ukraine CNN —
Russia has launched the largest airstrike on Ukraine since its full-scale invasion began, the Ukrainian military told CNN. An unprecedented number of drones and missiles were fired at targets across the country, killing at least 26 people people and injured more than 120 others.
The wave of attacks began on Friday night and spread across the entire country. Explosions were reported in the capital Kiev, as well as at a maternity hospital in downtown Dnipro, the eastern city of Kharkiv, the southeastern port of Odessa and the western city of Lviv, far from the front.
The attacks continued Friday afternoon, the Ukrainian air force said, as a barrage of rockets targeted the northern Cherkasy region, one of which hit the town of Smilla. More rockets were spotted from Russia's Kursk region heading toward the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy.
“It has been a long time since we saw so many enemy targets on our monitors in all regions and directions,” Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat told national television. “Everything was fired.”
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia used 158 drones and missiles, including hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, cruise missiles and Shahed drones, to attack targets in Kiev, the east, south and west of the country.
“Today the enemy struck a huge blow. There are targets shot down, but unfortunately there are also victims,” Ihnat added.
The Polish military reported early Friday morning that an “unidentified flying object” had entered Polish airspace from Ukrainian territory. Ihnat suggested that the object may have been fired by Ukrainian air defense forces to intercept incoming Russian missiles near the far western city of Lviv near the Polish border.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had used “almost every type of weapon in its arsenal” in the “terrorist attacks” and promised that the Ukrainian military would respond.
The massive overnight attack came just days after Ukraine struck a Russian Navy landing ship in Crimea on Tuesday, severely damaging the vessel. This was another serious blow to Moscow's Black Sea Fleet.
However, the attack also came shortly after Ukraine received the last military aid package from the United States pending Congress' approval of the Biden administration's funding request.
Nearly two years since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Zelensky faces a largely stalled counteroffensive while Western aid begins to run out.
At least three people were killed and 28 injured, including 25 in hospital, in Kiev after Russia attacked a subway station and residential buildings. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said four people had been rescued from the rubble of a damaged warehouse in Shevchenkivskyi district, adding that rescue operations were still underway.
Kharkiv was According to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, a “massive attack” occurred. More than 20 attacks were reported in the region, including at a hospital. According to the head of the regional military administration, Oleh Syniehubov, at least three people were killed and 11 injured in the attacks.
At least four people were killed Ten people were injured in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, said the head of the regional military administration, Jurif Malaschko, on Telegram. Rescue workers are still trying to find out whether people are trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings. Malashko said the region was attacked by 10 missiles, including Kinzhal missiles, one of which was intercepted.
Further south, a school building was hit in Odessa, injuring seven people, including a child. At least three people were killed and 22 injured – including two children and a pregnant woman – in attacks elsewhere in the region, according to Oleh Kiper, head of the Odessa region's military administration. At least 18 people were hospitalized.
And in downtown Dnipro, at least five people were killed and more than 20 injured, officials said.
Prime Minister Shymal praised the professionalism of Ukraine's air defense forces, which he said shot down most drones and missiles but could not prevent all attacks.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said Russia targeted “Ukrainian women, children, the elderly and civilians.”
“The crimes Russia committed in Ukraine today are its revenge for its inability to turn the tide in the fight against the Ukrainian Defense Forces,” it said in a statement.
Without directly referring to Friday's attacks, Russia's Defense Ministry said its army “carried out 50 group attacks and one mass attack using high-precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles” in the period from December 23 to 29, claiming it was only carrying out military attacks given goals.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Kiev warned Americans on Friday that it “expects an increase in Russian drone and missile attacks during the New Year holiday weekend.”
The head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, called for support in his country's fight against Russian air strikes.
“A massive terrorist attack, rockets are flying towards our cities again and civilians are being targeted,” Yermak said in a Telegram post on Friday.
“Ukraine needs support. We will be even stronger, we are doing everything we can to strengthen our air shield. But the world must recognize that we need more support and strength to stop this terror.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union would support Ukraine “for as long as necessary.”
“We have stood by Ukraine since the first day of the Russian war of aggression. With almost 85 billion euros [$94 billion] in financial, humanitarian and military support,” she wrote on X.
The latest proposed EU aid package for Ukraine was blocked by Hungary earlier this month, but a majority of members are considering using other mechanisms to continue providing financial support to Ukraine. Von der Leyen said Brussels was working “very hard” to reach an agreement between 27 member states.
US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink shared on X, formerly Twitter, a screenshot of the numerous airstrike warnings sent to Ukrainian phones overnight.
“This is what Ukrainians are seeing on their cell phones this morning,” she said. “As a result, millions of men, women and children find themselves in bomb shelters while Russia fires missiles across the country. Ukraine needs funding now to continue fighting for freedom from this horror in 2024.”
The Ukrainian Air Force said it had recorded “the departure of nine Tu-95MS strategic bombers from 'Olenya' airfield in the Murmansk region of Russia.” The Tu-95 bomber is a mainstay of Russian air strikes on Ukraine and can fire cruise missiles against its neighbor beyond the range of most air defense systems.
Air raid sirens wailed for several hours in Kiev overnight. Residents told CNN later on Friday how they were awakened by the attacks.
“It was very loud, the house shook, it was very scary,” Viktoria Krasyuk said. “It feels like you've been living in it for many months, but it still triggers emotions, it's still very difficult, it's very hard to decide whether to stay or go somewhere or even (the country) should leave.”
A man named Sehiy told CNN the attack was a reminder that Russia “has the same goal – to destroy Ukraine as a state.”
“Unfortunately, Russia is learning to fight. It is learning to fight, including from us Ukrainians. They collect ammunition and everything else they need,” he said.
Trains were stopped because a building was damaged at the Lukianivska metro station in central Kiev, which also serves as a shelter, Mayor Klitschko said.
Many were injured and a search for victims was underway after a warehouse caught fire in the capital region's Podilskyi district, Kiev Military Administration chief Serhiy Popko said in a Telegram post.
In Lviv, which borders Poland, at least 15 people were injured, according to the head of the regional military administration, and damage was reported in 13 residential buildings and two schools. The National Basketball Association later announced that one of the country's most famous basketball players, Viktor Kobzystyi, had died in the attacks on the city.
Responding to reports that an “unidentified flying object” had entered Polish airspace, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Ihnat said “this is nothing new.”
“We saw missiles flying into Romania and attacking drones and debris. The same thing happened in Poland,” he told Ukrainian television. “Things like this can happen in such massive attacks. The enemy is attacking the border areas in the west [of Ukraine] as well as.”
In November 2022, a rocket struck near the Polish village of Przewodow, near the border with Ukraine, killing two people. US officials later determined it was a Ukrainian S-300 anti-aircraft missile.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he wished that the “loud sound of explosions” heard across Ukraine on Friday morning “could be heard around the world.”
“In all major capitals, headquarters and parliaments that are currently debating further support for Ukraine. In all newsrooms that write about 'fatigue' or Russia's supposed willingness to 'negotiate,'” he wrote on X.
“These noises are what Russia really has to say. Our only collective response can and must be continued, robust and long-term military and financial assistance to Ukraine. Only greater firepower can silence Russian terror.”