Russia launched its deadliest barrage of the year against Ukraine early Thursday, killing at least 16 civilians, including a 12-year-old child, and wounding over 100 others across multiple cities. The overnight assault involved 659 drones and 44 missiles, with Ukrainian air defenses downing 636 drones and 31 missiles while 20 drones and 12 missiles struck their targets.

In Kyiv, four people died when drones and missiles hit residential areas, including an 18-storey apartment building and structures in the Podil and northern districts. A low-flying Geran-2 kamikaze drone slammed into a high-rise, while missile debris damaged a sixth-floor apartment. Fires raged at a recyclable materials warehouse, and rescuers pulled a mother and child from rubble in the central district. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported 54 injuries in the capital, including four emergency medical workers.

Odesa suffered the heaviest toll with nine fatalities and at least 23 wounded after strikes demolished parts of a high-rise residential building, sparking a massive fire and destroying several apartments. Port infrastructure, warehouses, and other residential sites sustained heavy damage, according to regional officials. In Dnipro, two people were killed, and around 30 were injured as missiles set multiple residential neighborhoods ablaze; this marked the second major attack on the city that week. Two others were hurt in drone strikes on Kharkiv.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes on civilian targets during a visit to Europe, where he sought additional defense systems from Germany, Norway, Italy, and the Netherlands. "Another night has proven that Russia does not deserve any easing of global policy or lifting of sanctions," he said. "Russia is betting on war, and the response must be exactly that: we must defend lives with all available means, and we must also apply pressure for the sake of peace with the same full force." Zelenskyy urged allies to unblock sanctions against Moscow and deliver promised aid on time.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed the call: "All decisions required to increase pressure on the aggressor must be unblocked now." Rescue operations continued into Thursday morning amid fears the death toll would rise. The attacks came days after an Easter truce collapsed, with both sides accusing each other of violations, and followed a large Russian drone salvo of 324 units on Tuesday.

As the war entered its fifth year, 2025 marked the deadliest period for Ukrainian civilians since the 2022 invasion, with over 2,500 killed. Ukrainian forces have downed thousands of incoming threats this year, but officials stress the need for more air defenses to counter Russia's intensified aerial campaign targeting energy and residential infrastructure.