Russia stormed civilian areas of Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in an attack that stretched for hours, from day to night, killing at least 16 people and wounding more than 80 others as terrified residents cowered in their homes, officials said Thursday.
Russia launched nearly 700 drones and dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles, mainly targeting civilians, in its biggest air campaign in almost two weeks, authorities said.
Tetiana Sokol, a 54-year-old Kiev resident, said two rockets hit near her home and she took cover with her dog in the hallway as flashes lit up the night and windows were shattered by the blast wave.
“The third attack broke everything, everything flew, we were shocked, we didn’t know where to run. I grabbed everything that came near and ran away with the dog,” she told The Associated Press. “I still can’t find the cats in the house, they climbed out somewhere, I don’t even know. No windows, nothing, the dog is still running around in stress.”
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Firefighters are working to extinguish a fire in Kiev after a Russian attack on April 16, 2026. Russia launched hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at civilian areas across Ukraine, killing at least 16 people and wounding more than 80, officials said. (Serhii Okunev/AFP via Getty Images)
Moscow’s forces have hit civilian areas almost daily since the massive invasion of its neighbor more than four years ago, with regular attacks occasionally interrupted by mass attacks. More than 15,000 Ukrainian civilians were killed in the attacks, according to the United Nations.
Zelenskyy on a mission to improve air defense
The latest bombing came in the wake of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s 48-hour trip this week to Germany, Norway and Italy in an urgent search for more air defense systems that can stop Russian missiles.
Ukraine has developed a significant domestic arms industry, especially in drone and missile production, but it has not yet matched the sophistication of US Patriot air defense systems. Ukraine’s top diplomatic priority is securing help from allies to buy and build more and better air defenses, Zelensky said this week.
Cash-strapped Ukraine also needs the early disbursement of a promised 90 billion euro ($106 billion) European Union loan that has been blocked by Hungary.
Ukraine fears the war with Iran is burning up supplies of the advanced U.S. systems it needs and has argued against a temporary waiver of Russian oil sanctions, which Kiev says helps fund the Kremlin’s war effort.
US ACCUSES RUSSIA OF ‘DANGEROUS AND UNEXPLAINED ESCALATION’ IN UKRAINE WAR DURING PEACE NEGOTIATIONS
A woman walks her dog through the rubble of a house damaged in a Russian attack on Kiev, Ukraine, on April 16, 2026. Officials said Russian forces fired nearly 700 drones and multiple missiles in a sweeping attack on Ukrainian civilians that lasted from day to night. (AP Photo/Evgeni Maloletka)
“Another night has proven that Russia does not deserve any easing of global policies or lifting of sanctions,” Zelenskyy said on X.
He thanked Germany, Norway and Italy for new agreements this week on supporting Ukrainian air defense. Officials are also working with the Netherlands on additional supplies, he said.
At the same time, he noted that some partner countries have not kept their promises of military support.
“I have instructed the commander of the air force to contact the partners who have previously committed to supplying missiles for Patriot and other systems,” Zelenskyy said.
Other parts of Ukraine and Russia were also affected
The bombing was the largest in weeks. Last month, Russia fired 948 drones and 34 missiles in 24 hours in the war’s largest attack on civilian areas.
At least four people, including a 12-year-old, were killed in Kiev overnight, authorities said. More than fifty others were injured. Officials said the attack damaged 17 apartment buildings, 10 private homes, as well as a hotel, office center, car dealership, gas station and a shopping center in the capital.
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Firefighters work on a building damaged during an overnight strike by Russia in Kiev, Ukraine, on April 16, 2026. Ukrainian officials said Russia’s hours-long airstrike hit Kiev, Odessa, the Dnipro region and Zaporizhia, damaging homes and other civilian sites. (Genya SAVILOV/AFP via Getty Images)
Nine people were killed and 23 injured in the southern port city of Odesa, three women were killed and about three dozen injured in the central Dnipro region, and one person was killed in Zaporizhia in the south.
“Such attacks cannot be normalized. These are war crimes that must be stopped and the perpetrators must be held accountable,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X.
The Ukrainian Air Force said its air defenses shot down or disabled 667 of 703 incoming targets, including 636 Shahed-type drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles.
It said 20 drones and 12 missiles hit 26 locations.
Meanwhile, in Russia, Krasnodar regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev reported that a 14-year-old girl and a woman were killed in Ukrainian attacks in the Black Sea port of Tuapse.
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He said attacks damaged six apartment buildings, 24 private homes and three schools. Drone fragments also fell near the port of Tuapse.
The Russian Defense Ministry said its air defenses downed 207 Ukrainian drones in one night.
