Ukraine faces widespread Russian overnight strikes as Kyiv targets Russian infrastructure

Russian forces launched extensive overnight aerial bombardments across several regions of Ukraine, including Kyiv, Odesa, Chernihiv, and Kryvyi Rih. A strike on a commercial center in Kryvyi Rih left at least 15 people dead and over 130 injured, while combined missile and drone attacks in Kyiv resulted in 13 deaths and 40 injuries. European Union Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas condemned the bombardments, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to help halt the war.

In response, Ukrainian drones hit a major Lukoil oil refinery in Russia, while Moscow reported ongoing preparations for a prisoner exchange. Concurrently, the United Kingdom authorized France and Ukraine to manufacture Scalp cruise missiles locally, drawing warnings from the Kremlin. Meanwhile, Italy reiterated its refusal to deploy troops to Ukraine or participate in scheduled multinational military exercises.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.