Russia Launches Record-Scale Attack on Ukraine: Kryvyi Rih, Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa Hit

On the night of February 22-23, Russia carried out one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion. The attack involved 267 drones and three Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, targeting multiple regions, including Kryvyi Rih, Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa. The strikes were launched from Russia, Crimea, and the Black Sea.

Kryvyi Rih: ballistic missile strike

In Kryvyi Rih, a ballistic missile strike caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure. One person was killed, and five others were injured, including four women and one man. Three remain hospitalized, with one in critical condition. The attack damaged 12 residential buildings, a religious facility, a social institution, a business enterprise, and a gas station. Several vehicles were also affected.

A fire broke out at the impact site, covering approximately 60 square meters, before being extinguished by emergency responders. Rescue teams evacuated two injured individuals, though one later died in the hospital.

Kyiv: drone attacks and air defense response

Russia launched aerial drones toward Kyiv, prompting multiple air raid alerts. Ukrainian air defense units engaged incoming threats, with explosions reported across the capital. Damage was recorded in three districts:

• Holosiivskyi district: A private house caught fire due to falling debris. Firefighters extinguished the blaze, which spread over 100 square meters.

• Darnytskyi district: A private home and several vehicles were damaged. Another nearby structure caught fire, covering 35 square meters before it was contained.

• Pecherskyi district: A non-residential building sustained damage.

No casualties were reported in the capital.

Zaporizhzhia: drone strike causes fire

In Zaporizhzhia, drone strikes triggered a fire in a residential area. The blast shattered windows in several multi-story buildings. Firefighters responded to a two-story house and a cargo truck engulfed in flames, which spread across 80 square meters before being controlled. A 53-year-old woman sustained injuries and was hospitalized.

Odesa region: UAV attack on civilian areas

Russian forces deployed attack drones against Odesa and surrounding areas. A private residence was hit, causing structural damage. Firefighters quickly extinguished blazes at the impact sites. At least three people were injured in the attack.

Other regions affected by the attack

• Kyiv Region: No direct hits on critical infrastructure were reported, but falling debris damaged four private houses in Bucha district. In Vyshhorod district, debris caused a grassfire in an open area.

• Sumy Region: Air defense units shot down five enemy drones before they reached their targets.

• Cherkasy Region: Ukrainian forces successfully intercepted 27 drones over the region, preventing any major damage or casualties.

Ukrainian Air Force Command confirmed the destruction of 138 Shahed-type attack drones and other UAVs in multiple regions, including Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Dnipropetrovsk.

Additionally, 119 decoy drones were prevented from reaching their targets due to electronic warfare interference, rendering them locationally lost. Three UAVs deviated toward Belarus, while one returned to Russian territory.

Earlier, a Russian drone attack on the Boryspil district of Kyiv region killed a 60-year-old railway worker and caused a fire at a warehouse. The strike also damaged a residential building, a school, a kindergarten, a store, and several vehicles, including a police patrol car.