Russian forces launched a large-scale overnight attack on Ukraine early Thursday, striking nine cities with missiles and drones in what Moscow described as a massive operation.

The barrage began after nightfall Wednesday and continued into Thursday morning, with explosions reported in Kyiv and other areas. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted many incoming threats, but some strikes caused damage to infrastructure and civilian sites.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces targeted military-industrial facilities, steelworks in Kryvyi Rih and Zaporizhzhia, an oil refinery in the Poltava region, logistics centers near Kyiv, and three ports in the Odesa region. Ukrainian officials confirmed hits on ports, grain storage, energy sites, and industrial areas across multiple regions.

Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russia launched two Oniks anti-ship missiles, an unspecified number of Iskander-M and KN-23 ballistic missiles, and 258 drones of various types, including Shahed models. Defenses shot down or suppressed seven ballistic missiles, one Oniks missile, and approximately 222 to 233 drones and decoys.

Casualties included at least two deaths: a 78-year-old woman in the Zaporizhzhia region and one person in Kharkiv. Several others were injured in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, and Kyiv from falling debris and direct hits. Residential buildings, a school, a medical facility, and warehouses sustained damage in Kyiv, while Odesa saw impacts on a 16-story apartment building, educational institutions, and a grain elevator after more than seven hours of attacks.

Power outages affected seven settlements in the Poltava region following strikes on energy facilities. Trains faced delays across several areas.

Six Russian drones entered Moldovan airspace during the operation, prompting condemnation from President Maia Sandu.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the combined drone and ballistic missile nature of the assault and highlighted ongoing needs for additional air defense systems. The attack follows recent reports of limited new Patriot interceptors arriving in Ukraine.

The strikes represent a continuation of Russia's sustained aerial campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure and military capabilities more than four years into the full-scale invasion.