Ukraine Reports Over 120 Drones Used in Recent Russian Onslaught

Kyiv – Ukrainian defence officials disclosed that Russian forces employed more than 120 drones in a coordinated series of strikes across multiple regions on Monday night. The unmanned attacks complemented missile bombardments that hit Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and Mykolaiv.

Most of the drones were identified as Iranian‑made Shahed models equipped with jet engines, allowing them to fly at higher speeds and altitudes. The Shahed fleet has become a staple of Russia’s aerial campaign, delivering payloads against both military and civilian sites.

In Zaporizhzhia, the combined missile‑drone assault resulted in six civilian deaths and 19 injuries. Rescue workers struggled to contain fires ignited by the explosions while searching for survivors trapped in collapsed structures.

The capital, Kyiv, suffered collateral damage when a missile struck an infectious‑disease hospital and an industrial plant, further burdening the city’s emergency services. Power substations in Kherson and Kharkiv were also hit, prompting temporary blackouts.

President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the intensity of the drone usage underscores Moscow’s determination to broaden the conflict. He called on partner nations to impose stricter sanctions on entities that supply technology to Russia’s drone programmes and to accelerate the provision of advanced air‑defence equipment.

First Lady Olena Zelenska used her X account to express solidarity with the victims, condemning the relentless attacks that continue to cripple Ukrainian communities.