• Russia launched a major drone and missile attack on Kyiv, resulting in at least four fatalities.
• The strikes injured over 70 individuals across various regions of Ukraine, intensifying international concerns.
• Poland scrambled jets to secure its airspace in response to the escalating threat.
• The Ukrainian president condemned the attacks, urging stronger international responses.
• The overnight assault lasted more than 12 hours and heavily targeted civilian infrastructure.

In a significant escalation, Russia launched a profound drone and missile attack on Ukraine, with Kyiv experiencing devastating assaults that led to at least four deaths and over 70 injuries. The attack, described by officials as a "massive" operation, involved approximately 600 drones and missiles, targeting both civilian areas and key infrastructure throughout the capital and numerous regions such as Zaporizhzhia and Odesa, among others, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, and Al Jazeera.

The aftermath of the strikes revealed extensive damage across Kyiv, including residential buildings and significant casualties among civilians, with reports indicating that a 12-year-old girl was among the deceased. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed these details while stating, “We must maximise the cost of further escalation for Russia,” emphasizing the need for stronger international backing against renewed aggression, according to TRT World and South China Morning Post.

The scale of this assault was unprecedented, lasting more than 12 hours and drawing swift defensive actions from neighboring Poland, which scrambled jets to secure its airspace amid escalating tensions. "The moves were preventive and aimed at securing Polish airspace," stated the Polish armed forces in response to perceived threats. This follows a series of complaints from NATO member countries regarding potential airspace violations by Russian aircraft, as detailed by Anadolu Agency and NPR.

Ukraine's military response reported shooting down a significant number of the incoming drones and missiles, showing a notable defensive capability despite the overwhelming scale of the attack. The Ukrainian Air Force claimed that it successfully downed 568 drones and 43 missiles out of a reported total of 595 launched at various targets, a detail underscored by Ukrainian officials as critical in this prolonged conflict, according to CBS News and Los Angeles Times.

As the repercussions of this attack continue to unfold, Zelensky reiterated the dire need for the international community to respond robustly, stating, “Moscow wants to keep fighting and killing and deserves only the harshest pressure from the world,” highlighting the urgency for collective action against ongoing hostilities, as reported by The Hill and India Times.