Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of launching another large-scale wave of drone attacks across Ukraine, saying 135 attack drones were deployed overnight against Kyiv and several other regions.
According to Zelenskyy, more than 50 of the aircraft used in the overnight assault were jet-powered drones, highlighting what Kyiv says is an expanding Russian reliance on increasingly sophisticated unmanned weapons.
The Ukrainian leader said Kyiv and the Dnipro, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia regions were among the areas targeted.
Pivnichnyi Bridge in Kyiv Targeted Again
Zelenskyy said Russian forces struck Kyiv’s Pivnichnyi Bridge with a drone on Saturday morning.
He described the incident as another attack on the bridge, indicating that the infrastructure had previously been targeted.
Emergency and other public services were deployed to affected locations as authorities assessed damage from the latest wave of strikes.
One Killed in Attack on Sumy Pharmaceutical Warehouse
The most serious reported casualty came from Sumy, where Zelenskyy said drones struck what he described as an ordinary pharmaceutical warehouse.
One person was killed in the attack.
Zelenskyy expressed condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones.
The Ukrainian president did not provide further details about the identity of the person killed or the full extent of damage to the warehouse.
Six Injured as Communications Facility Hit in Dnipro
A communications facility in Dnipro was also struck during the attacks, according to Zelenskyy.
He said six people were injured across the latest strikes.
The Ukrainian president accused Russia of continuing to target infrastructure associated with everyday civilian life, including residential buildings and critical facilities.
Some communities were also experiencing electricity outages following the attacks, he said.
Zelenskyy Accuses Russia of Targeting Everyday Life
Zelenskyy described residential properties and essential infrastructure as recurring targets of Russian attacks.
He characterised the strikes as part of an effort to disrupt the basic systems Ukrainians depend on in their daily lives.
Ukrainian emergency personnel and other services were working at impact sites following the overnight bombardment.
The full extent of the damage was not immediately detailed.
Ukraine Claims More Than 1,900 Russian Drones Used in One Week
Zelenskyy also released figures illustrating what he described as the extraordinary intensity of Russian attacks over the past week.
According to the Ukrainian president, Russia launched more than 1,900 attack drones against Ukraine during that period.
He said Russian forces also used approximately 1,700 guided aerial bombs and 25 missiles.
More than 800 of the drones deployed during the week were jet-powered, according to Zelenskyy’s figures.
The battlefield figures represent claims from the Ukrainian government and could not immediately be independently verified.
Kyiv Calls for International Response to Escalation
Zelenskyy said the scale of the attacks demonstrated why Ukraine should not be left to confront Russia without international assistance.
He called for Moscow to be held accountable for what he described as an escalation in its aerial campaign.
Ukraine has repeatedly appealed to Western governments for additional air-defence systems, interceptors and other military equipment capable of protecting cities and critical infrastructure from Russian missiles and drones.
Friedrich Merz Arrives in Kyiv
Zelenskyy’s comments coincided with a visit to Kyiv by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The Ukrainian president praised Germany’s support and described Merz as the leader of a country that had consistently demonstrated leadership in efforts to protect Ukrainians from Russian attacks.
Germany has been among Ukraine’s major European supporters during the war, particularly in areas including military assistance and air defence.
Ukraine and Germany Prepare New Agreements
Zelenskyy said talks with Merz would focus on decisions intended to strengthen both Ukrainian and wider European defensive capabilities.
He indicated that important agreements between Germany and Ukraine were being prepared during the chancellor’s visit, although he did not immediately disclose their details.
The Ukrainian leader presented the discussions as part of a wider effort to strengthen Europe‘s ability to respond to Russian military pressure.
Zelenskyy Says Russia Must Be Stopped Collectively
Zelenskyy concluded his statement by arguing that confronting Russia required a coordinated response from Ukraine and its international partners.
“Russia must be stopped together,” he said, while thanking governments and individuals continuing to provide assistance to Ukraine.
The latest appeal comes as Kyiv seeks additional international support to counter sustained Russian aerial attacks while simultaneously strengthening its longer-term defence capabilities with European partners.
